Materials Engineer Salary in Cullowhee, NC

How much does a Materials Engineer make in Cullowhee, NC?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Materials Engineer in Cullowhee, NC is $95,465 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $46.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $112,028
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $86,678 to $104,135
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $78,677
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View as table View as graph 25% $86,678 10% $78,677 90% $112,028 75% $104,135 $95,465 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Materials Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $104,135 $8,678 $2,003 $50
Average $95,465 $7,955 $1,836 $46
25th Percentile $86,678 $7,223 $1,667 $42
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Key Factors That Influence Materials Engineer Salaries

A Materials Engineer'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, skills and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Materials Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Materials Engineer'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $70,914
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $83,773
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $94,828
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $115,787
  • Expert (over 8 years): $141,629
Levels Salary
Materials... Level Materials Engineer$70,914
Materials... Level Materials Engineer$83,773
Materials... Level Materials Engineer$94,828
Materials... Level Materials Engineer$115,787
Materials... Level Materials Engineer$141,629
$70,914 0 yr
$83,773 < 2 yrs
$94,828 2-4 yrs
$115,787 5-8 yrs
$141,629 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Materials Engineers

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: $132,319
  • San Francisco: $130,870
  • Oakland: $128,112

What Skills Can Increase a Materials Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 17.04% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Test Plans (Mentioned in 2.25% Job Postings): A test plan is a document detailing the objectives, resources, and processes for a specific test for a software or hardware product. The plan typically contains a detailed understanding of the eventual workflow.
  • Continuous Improvement (Mentioned in 1.29% 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.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 17.04%
Test Plans 2.25%
Continuous Improvement 1.29%
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's salary.
  • Process Development: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Results Oriented: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Chemistry: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Process Development
$102,148
7%
Results Oriented
$102,148
7%
Chemistry
$100,239
5%
Welding
$100,239
5%
Test Plans
$100,239
5%
SEM
$100,239
5%
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Materials Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Materials Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 120% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Chemicals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 60% above the average. In contrast, Materials Engineer positions in Aerospace & Defense or Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Materials Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Materials Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$152,745$73.060%
Chemicals$143,198$69.050%
Retail & Wholesale$138,425$67.045%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$133,652$64.040%
Telecom$128,878$62.035%

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

Understanding how a Materials Engineer'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

Find Your Next Materials Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Materials Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Jackson County School District

    Cullowhee, NC

    Jackson County School District | Cullowhee, NC

    EC Bus Monitor (PM Route). TERM OF EMPLOYMENT: Non-Exempt Position. 10-Month Position. Part-time. Starting January 2027. QUALIFICATIONS: First Aid/CPR skil... more

    6 Days Ago

  • The Scion Group

    Cullowhee, NC

    The Scion Group | Cullowhee, NC

    Resident Services ManagerWe're hiring immediately. The Resident Services Manager plays a key leadership role in fostering a high-quality living experience ... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Western Carolina University

    Cullowhee, NC

    Western Carolina University | Cullowhee, NC

    Adjunct-MathematicsPlease see Special Instructions for more details.Thank you for your interest in this position.To be considered, you must apply online. H... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Western Carolina University

    Cullowhee, NC

    Western Carolina University | Cullowhee, NC

    Fac Maint Tech- Mech Trades (HVAC - Day) - #221812, #221811Please see Special Instructions for more details.Applicants must apply online in order to be con... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Western Carolina University

    Cullowhee, NC

    Western Carolina University | Cullowhee, NC

    Assistant Professor - Forest or Landscape Ecology & Management - #261084, #001170Please see Special Instructions for more details.Applications must be subm... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Western Carolina University

    Cullowhee, NC

    Western Carolina University | Cullowhee, NC

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Cost of Living In Cullowhee, NC

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