How much does a Materials Engineer make?

The average salary for a Materials Engineer is $92,472 per year in United States. Salaries estimates are based on 2666 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a Materials Engineer employees in United States.

The highest salary for a Materials Engineer in United States is $116,127 per year.

The lowest salary for a Materials Engineer in United States is $73,902 per year.

If you are thinking of becoming a Materials Engineer or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of a Materials Engineer.

Materials engineering salaries are high, reflecting the field’s significant barriers to entry. A bachelor’s in engineering degree is considered a minimum qualification, although many firms strongly prefer candidates with internship experience. Once hired, materials engineers typically work full time and are paid a salary with full benefits. Candidates with a Master of Engineering degree are typically paid higher salaries than candidates with only a bachelor’s degree. Successful engineers can earn a Professional Engineering (PE) license that indicates they are ready for more leadership responsibility, or they may choose to transition into a project manager role.

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Thanks to anonymous reports on Glassdoor, it's now known that 73% of materials engineers are content with their current salaries based on region and work experience. As they gain more skills and tenure, material engineers can increase their base pay to a more respectable amount.

For materials engineers, the current average salary is $86,672.09, which can increase over time as you advance along the materials engineer career path. Typical materials engineer salaries start at $60,428.68 with the top end being around $142,256.06 once you're established in the field. When considering additional pay such as bonuses and commissions, engineers can potentially make $92,472.42 in annual income.

Looking to increase the amount of money you make while moving through your materials engineer career is natural. An easy way to get started is by mastering new in-demand skills that broaden the types of projects and tasks you can take on. A degree in engineering that matches any specialty or niche you find yourself in is another instant bolster to how much money you can command when applying for a promotion or new role, whether with your current company or a competitor. The more value you can create for an organization, the higher the salary you can expect.

Finding your next materials engineer position can be an exciting opportunity to negotiate a more competitive base pay. Both internal and external jobs you apply for can be used to start earning more if you're prepared for the salary discussion. Always start by creating a list of your current experience, education, and applicable skills that you can use to compare to current listings and their offered salaries. Understanding the marketability of your skill set positions you to leverage statements, such as, "Right now, there are companies offering X amount for candidates with my resume and work history," to show you know what you're worth.