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Materials Engineer V Salary in the United States

How much does a Materials Engineer V make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Materials Engineer V in the United States is $152,824 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $73.

However, a Materials Engineer V's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $163,729
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $142,311 to $158,532
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $132,739

Key Factors That Influence Materials Engineer V Salaries

A Materials Engineer V'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.

How Experience Level Affects Materials Engineer V Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Materials Engineer V'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:

  • Materials Engineer II (2-4 years): $90,395
  • Materials Engineer III (4-7 years): $102,324
  • Materials Engineer IV (7+ years): $124,940
  • Materials Engineer V (7-10 years): $152,824
  • Materials Engineering Manager (10+ years): $141,410
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Materials Engineer II2-4 years$90,395
Materials Engineer III4-7 years$102,324
Materials Engineer IV7+ years$124,940
Materials Engineer V7-10 years$152,824
Materials Engineering Manager10+ years$141,410

Top Paying Cities for Materials Engineer V

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $192,757
  • San Francisco: $190,646
  • Oakland: $186,629

What Skills Can Increase a Materials Engineer V's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 17.06% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Economics (Mentioned in 1.76% Job Postings): 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 (Mentioned in 1.18% Job Postings): 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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 17.06%
Economics 1.76%
Continuous Improvement 1.18%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Materials Engineer V's salary.

  • SEM: Can increase your salary by up to 44%.
  • Failure Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 30%.
  • Production Process: Can increase your salary by up to 29%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
SEM $220,067
44%
Failure Analysis $198,671
30%
Production Process $197,143
29%

Materials Engineer V Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Materials Engineer V salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $171,398. While startup companies pay approximate $145,091.

Materials Engineer V Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $145,091
Growth Stage 51~500 $153,420
Established 501~5000 $165,542
Enterprise 5000+ $171,398

Materials Engineer V Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Materials Engineer V roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 65% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Materials Engineer positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Materials Engineer V as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Materials Engineer V

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$198,671$96.030%
Financial Services$183,389$88.020%
Biotechnology$175,748$84.015%
Energy & Utilities$175,748$84.015%
Software & Networking$175,748$84.015%

How Education impacts an Materials Engineer V's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Materials Engineer V enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Materials Engineer V with a Bachelor's Degree is between $168,307 and $177,451.

Materials Engineer V Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Materials Engineer V
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.5%
High School 24.1%
Associates 2.5%
Bachelors 24.1%
Masters 29.1%
Doctorate 44.3%

Materials Engineer V Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Materials Engineer V'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 August 01, 2026
$142,311
Average $152,824/year
$158,532
$11,859
Average $12,735/month
$13,211
$2,737
Average $2,939/week
$3,049
$68
Average $73/hour
$76
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $158,532 $13,211 $3,049 $76
Average $152,824 $12,735 $2,939 $73
25th Percentile $142,311 $11,859 $2,737 $68

Materials Engineer V Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Materials Engineer V, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Materials Engineer V Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Materials Engineering Manager $141,410 -7%
Metallurgical Engineering Supervisor $129,100 -16%

Most common benefits for Materials Engineer V

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Materials Engineer V

Here are companies hiring for Materials Engineer V and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Materials Engineer V

1. Where can a Materials Engineer V earn the most?

A Materials Engineer V's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Materials Engineer V earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Materials Engineer V is $192,757.

2. What is the highest pay for Materials Engineer V?

The highest pay for Materials Engineer V is $163,729.

3. What is the lowest pay for Materials Engineer V?

The lowest pay for Materials Engineer V is $132,739.

4. What are the responsibilities of Materials Engineer V?

Develops and refines the physical materials that serve as the foundation of technology, that spans from smartphones to advanced aircraft. Evaluates the specific properties to ensure the best fit for the product's needs. Focuses on physical attributes such as strength, weight, and durability. Investigates failures to improve safety and prevention. Requires a bachelor's degree in materials science and engineering or a related engineering field. Typically reports to a manager. Works autonomously. Goals are generally communicated in "solution" or project goal terms. May provide a leadership role for the work group through knowledge in the area of specialization. Works on advanced, complex technical projects or business issues requiring state of the art technical or industry knowledge. Typically requires 10+ years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Materials Engineer V?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Materials Engineer V roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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