Materials Engineer salary in Pennsylvania
Materials Engineers in Pennsylvania earn a median of $98,030 a year ($47.13 an hour), based on BLS data for 720 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $173,530 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $112,860. Pennsylvania ranks 36th of 45 states for materials engineers pay. There are 0.12 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $106,560, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials engineers in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,790 | $30.19 |
| 25th percentile | $76,760 | $36.91 |
| Median | $98,030 | $47.13 |
| 75th percentile | $128,360 | $61.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $173,530 | $83.43 |
| Average (mean) | $106,560 | $51.23 |
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 | $8,169.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,084.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,770.38 |
| Weekly | $1,885.19 |
| Hourly | $47.13 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $125,190 | 320 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $116,510 | 30 |
| Reading, PA | $99,040 | 50 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $98,440 | 40 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $92,740 | 120 |
| Lancaster, PA | $79,270 | 30 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $97,850 | $47.04 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $97,920 | $47.08 |
| Industrial Engineer | $99,560 | $47.87 |
| Electrical Engineer | $110,820 | $53.28 |
| Engineers, All Other | $108,950 | $52.38 |
| Environmental Engineer | $103,330 | $49.68 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $121,260 | $58.30 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $133,940 | $64.40 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $122,560 | $58.92 |
| Chemical Engineer | $116,970 | $56.23 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $101,880 | $48.98 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $121,730 | $58.52 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $133,250 | $64.06 |
| Agricultural Engineer | $80,300 | $38.61 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania?
The median salary for materials engineers in Pennsylvania is $98,030 a year, or $47.13 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $173,530 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of materials engineers in Pennsylvania earn at least $173,530 a year. The top 25% earn $128,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,790 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $76,760 or less.
How many materials engineers work in Pennsylvania?
About 720 materials engineers are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.