Materials Engineer salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Materials Engineers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $117,000 a year ($56.25 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $81,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,700 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $112,860. Pay here is 12% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $104,240. There are 0.22 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $117,340, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials engineers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,960 | $39.41 |
| 25th percentile | $102,230 | $49.15 |
| Median | $117,000 | $56.25 |
| 75th percentile | $131,120 | $63.04 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,700 | $77.26 |
| Average (mean) | $117,340 | $56.41 |
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 | $9,750 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,875 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,500 |
| Weekly | $2,250 |
| Hourly | $56.25 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $116,720 | 190 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $104,910 | 140 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $104,310 | n/a |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $98,380 | 170 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $102,890 | $49.47 |
| Electrical Engineer | $129,030 | $62.03 |
| Civil Engineer | $93,940 | $45.16 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $101,650 | $48.87 |
| Engineers, All Other | $127,710 | $61.40 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $175,110 | $84.19 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $99,050 | $47.62 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $155,680 | $74.85 |
| Chemical Engineer | $117,440 | $56.46 |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,950 | $51.90 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $116,780 | $56.15 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $62,420 | $30.01 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $64,320 | $30.92 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $98,620 | $47.41 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for materials engineers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $117,000 a year, or $56.25 an hour. Pay ranges from $81,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,700 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of materials engineers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $160,700 a year. The top 25% earn $131,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $81,960 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $102,230 or less.
How many materials engineers work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 80 materials engineers are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.