Materials Engineer salary in California
Materials Engineers in California earn a median of $128,470 a year ($61.77 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,020 workers.
Pay ranges from $82,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $183,880 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $112,860. California ranks 6th of 45 states for materials engineers pay. There are 0.17 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $131,090, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials engineers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,460 | $39.64 |
| 25th percentile | $103,250 | $49.64 |
| Median | $128,470 | $61.77 |
| 75th percentile | $157,980 | $75.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $183,880 | $88.40 |
| Average (mean) | $131,090 | $63.03 |
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 | $10,705.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,352.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,941.15 |
| Weekly | $2,470.58 |
| Hourly | $61.77 |
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 California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $156,730 | 550 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $130,440 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $130,040 | 100 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $129,480 | 340 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $125,200 | 1,250 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $124,180 | 260 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $122,450 | 60 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $109,100 | 90 |
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 California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $122,500 | $58.89 |
| Industrial Engineer | $124,600 | $59.90 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $130,900 | $62.94 |
| Engineers, All Other | $130,850 | $62.91 |
| Electrical Engineer | $144,040 | $69.25 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $160,520 | $77.17 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $185,180 | $89.03 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $157,620 | $75.78 |
| Environmental Engineer | $130,410 | $62.70 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $128,310 | $61.69 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $131,540 | $63.24 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $172,400 | $82.88 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $143,590 | $69.03 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $158,130 | $76.03 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for materials engineers in California is $128,470 a year, or $61.77 an hour. Pay ranges from $82,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $183,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in California?
The top 10% of materials engineers in California earn at least $183,880 a year. The top 25% earn $157,980 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $82,460 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $103,250 or less.
How many materials engineers work in California?
About 3,020 materials engineers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.