Materials Engineer salary in North Carolina
Materials Engineers in North Carolina earn a median of $104,240 a year ($50.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 640 workers.
Pay ranges from $78,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $153,570 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $112,860. North Carolina ranks 25th of 45 states for materials engineers pay. There are 0.13 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $110,700, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials engineers in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,160 | $37.58 |
| 25th percentile | $86,400 | $41.54 |
| Median | $104,240 | $50.11 |
| 75th percentile | $127,560 | $61.33 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $153,570 | $73.83 |
| Average (mean) | $110,700 | $53.22 |
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 | $8,686.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,343.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,009.23 |
| Weekly | $2,004.62 |
| Hourly | $50.11 |
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 North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $117,000 | 80 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $100,730 | $48.43 |
| Industrial Engineer | $99,310 | $47.74 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $100,720 | $48.42 |
| Electrical Engineer | $110,130 | $52.95 |
| Engineers, All Other | $112,450 | $54.06 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $115,920 | $55.73 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $134,670 | $64.74 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $94,790 | $45.57 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $122,930 | $59.10 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $106,800 | $51.34 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $131,850 | $63.39 |
| Chemical Engineer | $117,410 | $56.45 |
| Environmental Engineer | $99,440 | $47.81 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $70,310 | $33.80 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for materials engineers in North Carolina is $104,240 a year, or $50.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $78,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $153,570 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of materials engineers in North Carolina earn at least $153,570 a year. The top 25% earn $127,560 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $78,160 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $86,400 or less.
How many materials engineers work in North Carolina?
About 640 materials engineers are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.