Materials Engineer salary in Richmond, VA
Materials Engineers in the Richmond, VA metro area earn a median of $102,440 a year ($49.25 an hour), based on BLS data for 200 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,900 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $112,860. Pay here is 12% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $116,720. There are 0.30 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $113,740, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials engineers in Richmond, VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,770 | $29.70 |
| 25th percentile | $77,600 | $37.31 |
| Median | $102,440 | $49.25 |
| 75th percentile | $132,450 | $63.68 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,900 | $79.28 |
| Average (mean) | $113,740 | $54.68 |
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 | $8,536.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,268.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,940 |
| Weekly | $1,970 |
| Hourly | $49.25 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $140,640 | 660 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $116,720 | 190 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Richmond, VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $91,300 | $43.90 |
| Electrical Engineer | $116,760 | $56.14 |
| Industrial Engineer | $103,180 | $49.60 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,130 | $50.06 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $140,460 | $67.53 |
| Engineers, All Other | $107,990 | $51.92 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $102,750 | $49.40 |
| Environmental Engineer | $100,760 | $48.44 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $120,370 | $57.87 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $132,270 | $63.59 |
| Chemical Engineer | $117,150 | $56.32 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $105,530 | $50.74 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $105,680 | $50.81 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $85,510 | $41.11 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Richmond, VA
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 Richmond, VA?
The median salary for materials engineers in the Richmond, VA metro area is $102,440 a year, or $49.25 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,900 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in Richmond, VA?
The top 10% of materials engineers in the Richmond, VA metro area earn at least $164,900 a year. The top 25% earn $132,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in Richmond, VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,770 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $77,600 or less.
How many materials engineers work in Richmond, VA?
About 200 materials engineers are employed in the Richmond, VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.