Materials Engineer salary in Pittsburgh, PA
Materials Engineers in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area earn a median of $92,740 a year ($44.59 an hour), based on BLS data for 120 workers.
Pay ranges from $51,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $150,240 for the top 10%. That is 18% lower than the national median of $112,860. Pay here is 5% lower than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $98,030. There are 0.11 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.74). The average (mean) salary is $101,550, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials engineers in Pittsburgh, PA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,620 | $24.82 |
| 25th percentile | $69,100 | $33.22 |
| Median | $92,740 | $44.59 |
| 75th percentile | $122,780 | $59.03 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $150,240 | $72.23 |
| Average (mean) | $101,550 | $48.82 |
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 | $7,728.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,864.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,566.92 |
| Weekly | $1,783.46 |
| Hourly | $44.59 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Materials Engineer pay in every state or the Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Pittsburgh, PA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $100,680 | $48.40 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $98,050 | $47.14 |
| Industrial Engineer | $98,190 | $47.21 |
| Electrical Engineer | $104,990 | $50.48 |
| Engineers, All Other | $112,420 | $54.05 |
| Environmental Engineer | $98,010 | $47.12 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $119,930 | $57.66 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $130,230 | $62.61 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $115,320 | $55.44 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $133,250 | $64.06 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $127,640 | $61.37 |
| Chemical Engineer | $152,290 | $73.22 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $128,390 | $61.73 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $74,900 | $36.01 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Pittsburgh, PA
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 Pittsburgh, PA?
The median salary for materials engineers in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area is $92,740 a year, or $44.59 an hour. Pay ranges from $51,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $150,240 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in Pittsburgh, PA?
The top 10% of materials engineers in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area earn at least $150,240 a year. The top 25% earn $122,780 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in Pittsburgh, PA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $51,620 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $69,100 or less.
How many materials engineers work in Pittsburgh, PA?
About 120 materials engineers are employed in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area, not counting the self-employed.