Materials Engineer salary in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
Materials Engineers in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median of $109,100 a year ($52.45 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $67,230 for the lowest-paid 10% to $137,840 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $112,860. Pay here is 15% lower than the California statewide median of $128,470. There are 0.05 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.36). The average (mean) salary is $104,740, close to the median.
Pay range for materials engineers in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,230 | $32.32 |
| 25th percentile | $82,860 | $39.84 |
| Median | $109,100 | $52.45 |
| 75th percentile | $124,660 | $59.93 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $137,840 | $66.27 |
| Average (mean) | $104,740 | $50.36 |
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 | $9,091.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,545.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,196.15 |
| Weekly | $2,098.08 |
| Hourly | $52.45 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $156,730 | 550 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $130,440 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $130,040 | 100 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $129,480 | 340 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $125,200 | 1,250 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $124,180 | 260 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $122,450 | 60 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $115,120 | $55.35 |
| Industrial Engineer | $101,700 | $48.89 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,910 | $50.44 |
| Engineers, All Other | $100,110 | $48.13 |
| Electrical Engineer | $109,990 | $52.88 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $130,940 | $62.95 |
| Environmental Engineer | $117,360 | $56.42 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $134,060 | $64.45 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $123,670 | $59.46 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $129,530 | $62.28 |
| Chemical Engineer | $106,200 | $51.06 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $119,970 | $57.68 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $70,580 | $33.93 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $80,710 | $38.80 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?
The median salary for materials engineers in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $109,100 a year, or $52.45 an hour. Pay ranges from $67,230 for the lowest-paid 10% to $137,840 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?
The top 10% of materials engineers in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn at least $137,840 a year. The top 25% earn $124,660 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $67,230 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $82,860 or less.
How many materials engineers work in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?
About 90 materials engineers are employed in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.