Materials Engineer salary in Madison, WI
Materials Engineers in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median of $111,050 a year ($53.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 30 workers.
Pay ranges from $90,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $149,430 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $112,860. Pay here is 15% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $96,210. There are 0.07 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.52). The average (mean) salary is $119,240, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials engineers in Madison, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $90,130 | $43.33 |
| 25th percentile | $105,370 | $50.66 |
| Median | $111,050 | $53.39 |
| 75th percentile | $141,500 | $68.03 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $149,430 | $71.84 |
| Average (mean) | $119,240 | $57.33 |
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 | $9,254.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,627.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,271.15 |
| Weekly | $2,135.58 |
| Hourly | $53.39 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $110,350 | 130 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $96,790 | 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 Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $99,010 | $47.60 |
| Industrial Engineer | $100,370 | $48.25 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $99,680 | $47.93 |
| Electrical Engineer | $102,420 | $49.24 |
| Engineers, All Other | $110,360 | $53.06 |
| Environmental Engineer | $90,560 | $43.54 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $82,200 | $39.52 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $103,170 | $49.60 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $86,330 | $41.51 |
| Chemical Engineer | $97,190 | $46.73 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $72,210 | $34.71 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $99,210 | $47.70 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $76,970 | $37.00 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $65,420 | $31.45 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Madison, WI
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 Madison, WI?
The median salary for materials engineers in the Madison, WI metro area is $111,050 a year, or $53.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $90,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $149,430 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in Madison, WI?
The top 10% of materials engineers in the Madison, WI metro area earn at least $149,430 a year. The top 25% earn $141,500 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in Madison, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $90,130 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $105,370 or less.
How many materials engineers work in Madison, WI?
About 30 materials engineers are employed in the Madison, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.