Materials Engineer salary in New Jersey
Materials Engineers in New Jersey earn a median of $106,920 a year ($51.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 260 workers.
Pay ranges from $82,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $170,140 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $112,860. New Jersey ranks 20th of 45 states for materials engineers pay. There are 0.06 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.41). The average (mean) salary is $117,440, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials engineers in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,120 | $39.48 |
| 25th percentile | $93,450 | $44.93 |
| Median | $106,920 | $51.41 |
| 75th percentile | $138,210 | $66.45 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $170,140 | $81.80 |
| Average (mean) | $117,440 | $56.46 |
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 | $8,910 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,455 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,112.31 |
| Weekly | $2,056.15 |
| Hourly | $51.41 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Materials Engineer salary in cities in New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $147,490 | 330 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $125,190 | 320 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $116,510 | 30 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $103,660 | 50 |
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 |
Related jobs in New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $104,660 | $50.32 |
| Industrial Engineer | $103,840 | $49.93 |
| Engineers, All Other | $132,450 | $63.68 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $112,300 | $53.99 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $126,430 | $60.79 |
| Electrical Engineer | $125,370 | $60.27 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $158,730 | $76.31 |
| Environmental Engineer | $102,630 | $49.34 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $114,680 | $55.14 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $142,880 | $68.69 |
| Chemical Engineer | $126,760 | $60.94 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $119,370 | $57.39 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $99,800 | $47.98 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $62,960 | $30.27 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in New Jersey
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 New Jersey?
The median salary for materials engineers in New Jersey is $106,920 a year, or $51.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $82,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $170,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of materials engineers in New Jersey earn at least $170,140 a year. The top 25% earn $138,210 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $82,120 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $93,450 or less.
How many materials engineers work in New Jersey?
About 260 materials engineers are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.