Materials Engineer salary in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
Materials Engineers in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area earn a median of $116,510 a year ($56.01 an hour), based on BLS data for 30 workers.
Pay ranges from $69,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $173,880 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $112,860. Pay here is 19% higher than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $98,030. There are 0.09 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.58). The average (mean) salary is $113,520, close to the median.
Pay range for materials engineers in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $69,720 | $33.52 |
| 25th percentile | $89,440 | $43.00 |
| Median | $116,510 | $56.01 |
| 75th percentile | $129,090 | $62.06 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $173,880 | $83.60 |
| Average (mean) | $113,520 | $54.58 |
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 | $9,709.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,854.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,481.15 |
| Weekly | $2,240.58 |
| Hourly | $56.01 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Materials Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $147,490 | 330 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $125,190 | 320 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $103,660 | 50 |
| Reading, PA | $99,040 | 50 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $98,440 | 40 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $92,740 | 120 |
| Lancaster, PA | $79,270 | 30 |
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 |
See Materials Engineer pay in every state or the Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $103,390 | $49.71 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $102,980 | $49.51 |
| Civil Engineer | $98,760 | $47.48 |
| Electrical Engineer | $111,500 | $53.61 |
| Engineers, All Other | $124,550 | $59.88 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $172,210 | $82.79 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $127,900 | $61.49 |
| Environmental Engineer | $109,970 | $52.87 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $135,220 | $65.01 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $68,120 | $32.75 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $64,470 | $31.00 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $77,750 | $37.38 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $67,760 | $32.58 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $84,370 | $40.56 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
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 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
The median salary for materials engineers in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area is $116,510 a year, or $56.01 an hour. Pay ranges from $69,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $173,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
The top 10% of materials engineers in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area earn at least $173,880 a year. The top 25% earn $129,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $69,720 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $89,440 or less.
How many materials engineers work in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
About 30 materials engineers are employed in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area, not counting the self-employed.