As of April 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Materials Engineer II in the United States is $43, which translates to an annual salary of about $90,410.
However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:
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A Materials Engineer II's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Materials Engineer II's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Materials Engineer I | 0-2 years | $76,546 |
| Materials Engineer II | 2-4 years | $90,410 |
| Materials Engineer III | 4-7 years | $102,342 |
| Materials Engineer IV | 7+ years | $124,919 |
| Materials Engineer V | 7-10 years | $152,836 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Materials Engineer IIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Analysis | 17.06% |
| Economics | 1.76% |
| Continuous Improvement | 1.18% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
Process Development
|
$98,547 |
9%
|
|
Failure Analysis
|
$98,547 |
9%
|
|
Casting
|
$97,643 |
8%
|
|
Statistical Analysis
|
$97,643 |
8%
|
|
Mechanical Engineering
|
$97,643 |
8%
|
|
Sustainability
|
$97,643 |
8%
|
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Materials Engineer IIs enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Materials Engineer II with a Bachelor's Degree is between $90,449 and $95,332).
Materials Engineer II Salaries by Degree Level
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 0.9% |
| High School | 0.9% |
| Associates | 44.7% |
| Bachelors | 43.9% |
| Masters | 44.7% |
| Doctorate | 10.5% |
Understanding how a Materials Engineer II's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Last Updated on April 01, 2026Salaries for a Materials Engineer II can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $88,316 in 2023 to around $87,670 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Materials Engineer II salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
View More
|
| 2023 | $88,316 |
| 2024 | $88,196 |
| 2025 | $87,670 |
| 2026 |
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|
| 2027 |
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|
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Plans for the most cost-effective utilization of materials. Applies knowledge of material science to recommend engineering and manufacturing changes to attain design objectives in the most economical manner possible. Reviews blueprints and specifications to determine the appropriate materials needed to achieve successful completion of initiatives. Requires a bachelor's degree in engineering. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Typically requires 2 to 4 years of related experience. Gains exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Economics: Economics is a social science that focuses on the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services, and analyzes the choices that individuals, businesses, governments, and nations make to allocate resources.
Continuous Improvement: A continual improvement process, also often called a continuous improvement process (abbreviated as CIP or CI), is an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. These efforts can seek "incremental" improvement over time or "breakthrough" improvement all at once. Delivery (customer valued) processes are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility. Some see CIPs as a meta-process for most management systems (such as business process management, quality management, project management, and program management). W. Edwards Deming, a pioneer of the field, saw it as part of the 'system' whereby feedback from the process and customer were evaluated against organisational goals. The fact that it can be called a management process does not mean that it needs to be executed by 'management'; but rather merely that it makes decisions about the implementation of the delivery process and the design of the delivery process itself.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
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