Materials Engineer salary in Colorado
Materials Engineers in Colorado earn a median of $124,030 a year ($59.63 an hour), based on BLS data for 810 workers.
Pay ranges from $64,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $180,500 for the top 10%. That is 10% higher than the national median of $112,860. Colorado ranks 9th of 45 states for materials engineers pay. There are 0.28 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $125,720, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials engineers in Colorado
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,710 | $31.11 |
| 25th percentile | $94,640 | $45.50 |
| Median | $124,030 | $59.63 |
| 75th percentile | $164,630 | $79.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $180,500 | $86.78 |
| Average (mean) | $125,720 | $60.44 |
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 | $10,335.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,167.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,770.38 |
| Weekly | $2,385.19 |
| Hourly | $59.63 |
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 Colorado
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | $151,940 | 210 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $125,750 | 480 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $94,700 | 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 |
Related jobs in Colorado
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $101,420 | $48.76 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $124,430 | $59.82 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $127,010 | $61.06 |
| Industrial Engineer | $109,750 | $52.77 |
| Electrical Engineer | $120,760 | $58.06 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $156,190 | $75.09 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $156,080 | $75.04 |
| Engineers, All Other | $132,590 | $63.75 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $172,190 | $82.78 |
| Environmental Engineer | $106,890 | $51.39 |
| Chemical Engineer | $125,800 | $60.48 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $96,820 | $46.55 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $120,950 | $58.15 |
| Agricultural Engineer | $88,650 | $42.62 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Colorado
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 Colorado?
The median salary for materials engineers in Colorado is $124,030 a year, or $59.63 an hour. Pay ranges from $64,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $180,500 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in Colorado?
The top 10% of materials engineers in Colorado earn at least $180,500 a year. The top 25% earn $164,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in Colorado?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $64,710 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $94,640 or less.
How many materials engineers work in Colorado?
About 810 materials engineers are employed in Colorado, not counting the self-employed.