Materials Engineers pay range in Raleigh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,210 a year or less, while the top 10% make $148,730 or more. The middle half of materials engineers in Raleigh earn between $86,400 and $128,040.
- $64K10th
- $86K25th
- $104KMedian
- $128K75th
- $149K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $109,980 | $9,165 | $52.88 |
| Median | $104,310 | $8,692 | $50.15 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $86,400 | $7,200 | $41.54 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $128,040 | $10,670 | $61.56 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Materials Engineers pay in Raleigh vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Materials engineers in Raleigh earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($110,700) and 9% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh | $109,980 | $104,310 | $64,210 | $148,730 | n/a |
| North Carolina | $110,700 | $104,240 | $78,160 | $153,570 | 640 |
| 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 Raleigh
On the average salary of $109,980, a single filer in Raleigh takes home about $82,321 a year, or $6,860 a month and $3,166 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).
Is Raleigh a good place for materials engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Raleigh area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.2), so the average $109,980 buys what about $112,045 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Raleigh ($51,990). A typical home costs $438,364, or 4.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Materials Engineers salary in other North Carolina cities
Raleigh ranks 3rd of 4 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($118,400).
- Charlotte$118,400
- Durham$117,340
- Raleigh$109,980
- Greensboro$102,280
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 Raleigh: questions
How much do materials engineers make an hour in Raleigh?
$52.87 an hour on average, and $50.15 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level materials engineers salary in Raleigh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,210 a year and the 25th percentile is $86,400, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the materials engineers take-home pay in Raleigh?
About $82,321 a year ($6,860 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $109,980.
Do materials engineers earn more in Raleigh than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC (39580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.5%.
- 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).
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