Materials Engineers pay range in Houston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,900 a year or less, while the top 10% make $245,630 or more. The middle half of materials engineers in Houston earn between $87,100 and $172,240.
- $64K10th
- $87K25th
- $123KMedian
- $172K75th
- $246K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $138,820 | $11,568 | $66.74 |
| Median | $123,250 | $10,271 | $59.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $87,100 | $7,258 | $41.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $172,240 | $14,353 | $82.81 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Materials Engineers pay in Houston vs. Texas and the U.S.
Materials engineers in Houston earn 10% more than the Texas average ($126,480) and 15% more than the U.S. average ($120,250). At the median the gap is +9% against the U.S. median of $112,860.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | $138,820 | $123,250 | $63,900 | $245,630 | 560 |
| Texas | $126,480 | $117,700 | $67,690 | $187,460 | 1,440 |
| 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 Houston
On the average salary of $138,820, a single filer in Houston takes home about $106,149 a year, or $8,846 a month and $4,083 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Houston a good place for materials engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Houston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.6), so the average $138,820 buys what about $140,750 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Houston ($49,410). A typical home costs $308,306, or 2.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Materials Engineers salary in other Texas cities
Houston ranks 1st of 4 Texas metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Houston$138,820
- Dallas$126,630
- Austin$107,130
- San Antonio$100,420
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 Houston: questions
How much do materials engineers make an hour in Houston?
$66.74 an hour on average, and $59.26 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level materials engineers salary in Houston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,900 a year and the 25th percentile is $87,100, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the materials engineers take-home pay in Houston?
About $106,149 a year ($8,846 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $138,820. Texas has no state income tax.
Do materials engineers earn more in Houston than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% more 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX (26420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.9%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.15, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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