Materials Engineers pay range in Trenton
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $87,030 a year or less, while the top 10% make $137,190 or more. The middle half of materials engineers in Trenton earn between $93,360 and $110,990.
- $87K10th
- $93K25th
- $104KMedian
- $111K75th
- $137K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $106,210 | $8,851 | $51.06 |
| Median | $103,660 | $8,638 | $49.84 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $93,360 | $7,780 | $44.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $110,990 | $9,249 | $53.36 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Materials Engineers pay in Trenton vs. New Jersey and the U.S.
Materials engineers in Trenton earn 10% less than the New Jersey average ($117,440) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($120,250). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $112,860.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton | $106,210 | $103,660 | $87,030 | $137,190 | 50 |
| New Jersey | $117,440 | $106,920 | $82,120 | $170,140 | 260 |
| 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 Trenton
On the average salary of $106,210, a single filer in Trenton takes home about $78,973 a year, or $6,581 a month and $3,037 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New Jersey's employee unemployment, disability and family-leave contributions are not included.
Is Trenton a good place for materials engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Trenton area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.2), so the average $106,210 buys what about $102,937 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Trenton ($63,490). A typical home costs $446,377, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Materials Engineers salary in nearby metro areas
- Philadelphia, PA$126,850
- Allentown, PA$113,520
- New York, NY$137,070
- Reading, PA$107,120
- Lancaster, PA$89,270
- Baltimore, MD$133,370
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 Trenton: questions
How much do materials engineers make an hour in Trenton?
$51.06 an hour on average, and $49.84 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level materials engineers salary in Trenton?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $87,030 a year and the 25th percentile is $93,360, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the materials engineers take-home pay in Trenton?
About $78,973 a year ($6,581 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $106,210. New Jersey's employee unemployment, disability and family-leave contributions are not included.
Do materials engineers earn more in Trenton than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Trenton-Princeton, NJ (45940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- 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). New Jersey's employee unemployment, disability and family-leave contributions are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.35, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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