Materials Engineer salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Materials Engineers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median of $125,200 a year ($60.19 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,250 workers.
Pay ranges from $87,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $179,890 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $112,860. Pay here is 3% lower than the California statewide median of $128,470. There are 0.20 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $127,780, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials engineers in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $87,500 | $42.07 |
| 25th percentile | $102,770 | $49.41 |
| Median | $125,200 | $60.19 |
| 75th percentile | $146,980 | $70.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $179,890 | $86.49 |
| Average (mean) | $127,780 | $61.43 |
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 | $10,433.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,216.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,815.38 |
| Weekly | $2,407.69 |
| Hourly | $60.19 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Materials Engineer pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $108,640 | $52.23 |
| Industrial Engineer | $113,040 | $54.34 |
| Electrical Engineer | $139,780 | $67.20 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $123,900 | $59.57 |
| Engineers, All Other | $125,060 | $60.13 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $163,280 | $78.50 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $140,530 | $67.56 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $158,530 | $76.22 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $128,240 | $61.65 |
| Environmental Engineer | $127,900 | $61.49 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $131,540 | $63.24 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $167,000 | $80.29 |
| Chemical Engineer | $134,210 | $64.52 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $144,230 | $69.34 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median salary for materials engineers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $125,200 a year, or $60.19 an hour. Pay ranges from $87,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $179,890 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The top 10% of materials engineers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn at least $179,890 a year. The top 25% earn $146,980 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $87,500 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $102,770 or less.
How many materials engineers work in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
About 1,250 materials engineers are employed in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.