Materials Engineers pay range in Birmingham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,100 a year or less, while the top 10% make $142,040 or more. The middle half of materials engineers in Birmingham earn between $77,210 and $128,000.
- $66K10th
- $77K25th
- $100KMedian
- $128K75th
- $142K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $99,340 | $8,278 | $47.76 |
| Median | $99,780 | $8,315 | $47.97 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $77,210 | $6,434 | $37.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $128,000 | $10,667 | $61.54 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Materials Engineers pay in Birmingham vs. Alabama and the U.S.
Materials engineers in Birmingham earn 13% less than the Alabama average ($114,610) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($120,250). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $112,860.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $99,340 | $99,780 | $66,100 | $142,040 | 120 |
| Alabama | $114,610 | $107,580 | $69,260 | $168,580 | 650 |
| United States | $120,250 | $112,860 | $72,300 | $175,720 | 22,770 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Materials Engineers salary after taxes in Birmingham
On the average salary of $99,340, a single filer in Birmingham takes home about $74,640 a year, or $6,220 a month and $2,871 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Is Birmingham a good place for materials engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Birmingham area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.6), so the average $99,340 buys what about $108,398 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Birmingham ($47,770). A typical home costs $262,556, or 2.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Materials Engineers salary in other Alabama cities
Birmingham ranks 4th of 4 Alabama metro areas for this job; Decatur pays the most ($129,920).
- Decatur$129,920
- Huntsville$126,860
- Mobile$103,290
- Birmingham$99,340
Highest-paying cities for materials engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($156,740).
- San Jose, CA$156,740
- Seattle, WA$153,780
- Washington, DC$145,070
- Boulder, CO$143,470
- Houston, TX$138,820
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Materials Engineers salary in Birmingham: questions
How much do materials engineers make an hour in Birmingham?
$47.76 an hour on average, and $47.97 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level materials engineers salary in Birmingham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,100 a year and the 25th percentile is $77,210, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the materials engineers take-home pay in Birmingham?
About $74,640 a year ($6,220 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $99,340. City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Do materials engineers earn more in Birmingham than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less than the U.S. average for this job ($120,250).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2131; area Birmingham, AL (13820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.55, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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