Materials Engineer salary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Materials Engineers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median of $156,130 a year ($75.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 820 workers.
Pay ranges from $96,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,380 for the top 10%. That is 38% higher than the national median of $112,860. Pay here is 12% higher than the Washington statewide median of $139,840. There are 0.39 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $153,780, close to the median.
Pay range for materials engineers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $96,060 | $46.18 |
| 25th percentile | $128,710 | $61.88 |
| Median | $156,130 | $75.06 |
| 75th percentile | $178,710 | $85.92 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $213,380 | $102.59 |
| Average (mean) | $153,780 | $73.94 |
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 | $13,010.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,505.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,005 |
| Weekly | $3,002.50 |
| Hourly | $75.06 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $128,250 | 70 |
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 Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $116,480 | $56.00 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $163,580 | $78.64 |
| Electrical Engineer | $140,210 | $67.41 |
| Industrial Engineer | $131,210 | $63.08 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $126,590 | $60.86 |
| Engineers, All Other | $137,430 | $66.07 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $169,120 | $81.31 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $138,890 | $66.78 |
| Environmental Engineer | $128,410 | $61.74 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $161,050 | $77.43 |
| Chemical Engineer | $125,200 | $60.19 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $129,820 | $62.42 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $128,610 | $61.83 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $134,800 | $64.81 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median salary for materials engineers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $156,130 a year, or $75.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $96,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The top 10% of materials engineers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn at least $213,380 a year. The top 25% earn $178,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $96,060 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $128,710 or less.
How many materials engineers work in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
About 820 materials engineers are employed in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.