Materials Engineers pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $84,590 a year or less, while the top 10% make $195,190 or more. The middle half of materials engineers in Washington earn between $113,780 and $180,480.
- $85K10th
- $114K25th
- $141KMedian
- $180K75th
- $195K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $145,070 | $12,089 | $69.75 |
| Median | $140,640 | $11,720 | $67.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $113,780 | $9,482 | $54.70 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $180,480 | $15,040 | $86.77 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Materials Engineers pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Materials engineers in Washington earn 21% more than the U.S. average ($120,250). At the median the gap is +25% against the U.S. median of $112,860.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $145,070 | $140,640 | $84,590 | $195,190 | 660 |
| 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 Washington
On the average salary of $145,070, a single filer in Washington takes home about $101,059 a year, or $8,422 a month and $3,887 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $104,666 | $8,722 |
| Working in MD | $103,596 | $8,633 |
| Working in VA | $102,894 | $8,574 |
| Working in DC | $101,059 | $8,422 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for materials engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $145,070 buys what about $133,234 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 4.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Materials Engineers salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$133,370
- Richmond, VA$113,740
- Harrisburg, PA$96,300
- Lancaster, PA$89,270
- Reading, PA$107,120
- Philadelphia, PA$126,850
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 Washington: questions
How much do materials engineers make an hour in Washington?
$69.74 an hour on average, and $67.62 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level materials engineers salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $84,590 a year and the 25th percentile is $113,780, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the materials engineers take-home pay in Washington?
About $101,059 a year ($8,422 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $145,070.
Do materials engineers earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.44, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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