Materials Engineer salary in South Carolina
Materials Engineers in South Carolina earn a median of $121,610 a year ($58.47 an hour), based on BLS data for 600 workers.
Pay ranges from $75,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $158,940 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $112,860. South Carolina ranks 13th of 45 states for materials engineers pay. There are 0.26 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $116,020, close to the median.
Pay range for materials engineers in South Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,550 | $36.32 |
| 25th percentile | $92,240 | $44.35 |
| Median | $121,610 | $58.47 |
| 75th percentile | $131,080 | $63.02 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $158,940 | $76.42 |
| Average (mean) | $116,020 | $55.78 |
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 | $10,134.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,067.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,677.31 |
| Weekly | $2,338.65 |
| Hourly | $58.47 |
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 South Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $131,080 | 200 |
| Columbia, SC | $121,290 | 40 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $106,580 | 230 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $104,910 | 140 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $96,610 | 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 South Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $101,060 | $48.59 |
| Civil Engineer | $101,600 | $48.85 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,580 | $50.28 |
| Electrical Engineer | $98,440 | $47.33 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $126,570 | $60.85 |
| Engineers, All Other | $110,490 | $53.12 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $113,720 | $54.67 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $125,110 | $60.15 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $137,030 | $65.88 |
| Environmental Engineer | $96,140 | $46.22 |
| Chemical Engineer | $101,570 | $48.83 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $104,120 | $50.06 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $99,130 | $47.66 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $136,990 | $65.86 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in South Carolina
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 South Carolina?
The median salary for materials engineers in South Carolina is $121,610 a year, or $58.47 an hour. Pay ranges from $75,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $158,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in South Carolina?
The top 10% of materials engineers in South Carolina earn at least $158,940 a year. The top 25% earn $131,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in South Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $75,550 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $92,240 or less.
How many materials engineers work in South Carolina?
About 600 materials engineers are employed in South Carolina, not counting the self-employed.