Materials Engineers pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $90,130 a year or less, while the top 10% make $149,430 or more. The middle half of materials engineers in Madison earn between $105,370 and $141,500.
- $90K10th
- $105K25th
- $111KMedian
- $142K75th
- $149K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $119,240 | $9,937 | $57.33 |
| Median | $111,050 | $9,254 | $53.39 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $105,370 | $8,781 | $50.66 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $141,500 | $11,792 | $68.03 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Materials Engineers pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Materials engineers in Madison earn 25% more than the Wisconsin average ($95,180) and about the same as the U.S. average ($120,250). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $112,860.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $119,240 | $111,050 | $90,130 | $149,430 | 30 |
| Wisconsin | $95,180 | $96,210 | $65,160 | $127,820 | 280 |
| 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 Madison
On the average salary of $119,240, a single filer in Madison takes home about $87,146 a year, or $7,262 a month and $3,352 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 (2026 rules).
Is Madison a good place for materials engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Madison area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $119,240 buys what about $122,565 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 3.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Materials Engineers salary in other Wisconsin cities
Madison ranks 1st of 2 Wisconsin metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Madison$119,240
- Milwaukee$97,380
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 Madison: questions
How much do materials engineers make an hour in Madison?
$57.33 an hour on average, and $53.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level materials engineers salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $90,130 a year and the 25th percentile is $105,370, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the materials engineers take-home pay in Madison?
About $87,146 a year ($7,262 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $119,240.
Do materials engineers earn more in Madison than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Madison, WI (31540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.8%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.52, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.52).
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