Materials Engineer salary in Alabama
Materials Engineers in Alabama earn a median of $107,580 a year ($51.72 an hour), based on BLS data for 650 workers.
Pay ranges from $69,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $168,580 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $112,860. Alabama ranks 19th of 45 states for materials engineers pay. There are 0.31 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $114,610, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials engineers in Alabama
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $69,260 | $33.30 |
| 25th percentile | $83,880 | $40.33 |
| Median | $107,580 | $51.72 |
| 75th percentile | $137,620 | $66.17 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,580 | $81.05 |
| Average (mean) | $114,610 | $55.10 |
Half of materials engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,965 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,482.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,137.69 |
| Weekly | $2,068.85 |
| Hourly | $51.72 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Materials Engineer salary in cities in Alabama
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Decatur, AL | $134,370 | 50 |
| Huntsville, AL | $120,720 | 280 |
| Mobile, AL | $104,610 | 80 |
| Birmingham, AL | $99,780 | 120 |
Highest-paying states for materials engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $165,600 |
| Maryland | $140,640 |
| Washington | $139,840 |
| Delaware | $131,320 |
| Louisiana | $128,670 |
| California | $128,470 |
| Illinois | $126,620 |
| New York | $125,900 |
| Colorado | $124,030 |
| Alaska | $123,360 |
Related jobs in Alabama
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $99,880 | $48.02 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $127,540 | $61.32 |
| Civil Engineer | $99,010 | $47.60 |
| Electrical Engineer | $125,630 | $60.40 |
| Engineers, All Other | $152,550 | $73.34 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $120,720 | $58.04 |
| Environmental Engineer | $102,650 | $49.35 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $136,990 | $65.86 |
| Chemical Engineer | $135,030 | $64.92 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $105,490 | $50.71 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $132,570 | $63.74 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $102,530 | $49.29 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $85,720 | $41.21 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $100,230 | $48.19 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Alabama
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2131. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a materials engineer make in Alabama?
The median salary for materials engineers in Alabama is $107,580 a year, or $51.72 an hour. Pay ranges from $69,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $168,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in Alabama?
The top 10% of materials engineers in Alabama earn at least $168,580 a year. The top 25% earn $137,620 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in Alabama?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $69,260 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $83,880 or less.
How many materials engineers work in Alabama?
About 650 materials engineers are employed in Alabama, not counting the self-employed.