Materials Engineer salary in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Materials Engineers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median of $123,250 a year ($59.26 an hour), based on BLS data for 560 workers.
Pay ranges from $63,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $245,630 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $112,860. Pay here is 5% higher than the Texas statewide median of $117,700. There are 0.17 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $138,820, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials engineers in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,900 | $30.72 |
| 25th percentile | $87,100 | $41.87 |
| Median | $123,250 | $59.26 |
| 75th percentile | $172,240 | $82.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $245,630 | $118.09 |
| Average (mean) | $138,820 | $66.74 |
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 | $10,270.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,135.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,740.38 |
| Weekly | $2,370.19 |
| Hourly | $59.26 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $117,700 | 440 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $96,730 | 90 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $82,800 | 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 |
See Materials Engineer pay in every state or the Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $100,950 | $48.53 |
| Industrial Engineer | $111,690 | $53.70 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $125,350 | $60.27 |
| Electrical Engineer | $131,070 | $63.02 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $169,870 | $81.67 |
| Engineers, All Other | $130,270 | $62.63 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $133,970 | $64.41 |
| Chemical Engineer | $138,120 | $66.40 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $130,280 | $62.64 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $129,630 | $62.32 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $137,740 | $66.22 |
| Environmental Engineer | $127,340 | $61.22 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $84,160 | $40.46 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $144,120 | $69.29 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
The median salary for materials engineers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $123,250 a year, or $59.26 an hour. Pay ranges from $63,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $245,630 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
The top 10% of materials engineers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn at least $245,630 a year. The top 25% earn $172,240 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $63,900 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $87,100 or less.
How many materials engineers work in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
About 560 materials engineers are employed in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.