Materials Engineers pay range in Detroit
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,910 a year or less, while the top 10% make $142,690 or more. The middle half of materials engineers in Detroit earn between $75,390 and $127,570.
- $65K10th
- $75K25th
- $100KMedian
- $128K75th
- $143K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $101,540 | $8,462 | $48.82 |
| Median | $100,070 | $8,339 | $48.11 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $75,390 | $6,282 | $36.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $127,570 | $10,631 | $61.33 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Materials Engineers pay in Detroit vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Materials engineers in Detroit earn about the same as the Michigan average ($98,980) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($120,250). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $112,860.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $101,540 | $100,070 | $64,910 | $142,690 | 460 |
| Michigan | $98,980 | $94,050 | $62,640 | $139,690 | 810 |
| 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 Detroit
On the average salary of $101,540, a single filer in Detroit takes home about $73,897 a year, or $6,158 a month and $2,842 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Is Detroit a good place for materials engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Detroit area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.3), so the average $101,540 buys what about $101,238 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Detroit ($52,080). A typical home costs $269,080, or 2.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Materials Engineers salary in other Michigan cities
Detroit ranks 2nd of 3 Michigan metro areas for this job; Ann Arbor pays the most ($105,400).
- Ann Arbor$105,400
- Detroit$101,540
- Grand Rapids$93,020
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 Detroit: questions
How much do materials engineers make an hour in Detroit?
$48.82 an hour on average, and $48.11 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level materials engineers salary in Detroit?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,910 a year and the 25th percentile is $75,390, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the materials engineers take-home pay in Detroit?
About $73,897 a year ($6,158 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $101,540. Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Do materials engineers earn more in Detroit than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% 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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI (19820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.64, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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