Materials Engineer salary in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Materials Engineers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median of $125,750 a year ($60.46 an hour), based on BLS data for 480 workers.
Pay ranges from $53,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $175,780 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $112,860. Pay here is 1% higher than the Colorado statewide median of $124,030. There are 0.30 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $121,900, close to the median.
Pay range for materials engineers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,500 | $25.72 |
| 25th percentile | $82,100 | $39.47 |
| Median | $125,750 | $60.46 |
| 75th percentile | $164,630 | $79.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $175,780 | $84.51 |
| Average (mean) | $121,900 | $58.61 |
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 | $10,479.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,239.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,836.54 |
| Weekly | $2,418.27 |
| Hourly | $60.46 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | $151,940 | 210 |
| 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 |
See Materials Engineer pay in every state or the Colorado statewide figures.
Related jobs in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $104,710 | $50.34 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $128,180 | $61.62 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $127,260 | $61.18 |
| Electrical Engineer | $119,020 | $57.22 |
| Industrial Engineer | $108,680 | $52.25 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $156,190 | $75.09 |
| Engineers, All Other | $131,740 | $63.34 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $144,660 | $69.55 |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,880 | $51.86 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $174,580 | $83.93 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $93,100 | $44.76 |
| Chemical Engineer | $128,110 | $61.59 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $118,560 | $57.00 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $101,060 | $48.59 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median salary for materials engineers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $125,750 a year, or $60.46 an hour. Pay ranges from $53,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $175,780 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The top 10% of materials engineers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn at least $175,780 a year. The top 25% earn $164,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $53,500 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $82,100 or less.
How many materials engineers work in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
About 480 materials engineers are employed in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area, not counting the self-employed.