Materials Engineer salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Materials Engineers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $114,670 a year ($55.13 an hour), based on BLS data for 120 workers.
Pay ranges from $65,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $156,090 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $112,860. Pay here is 16% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $98,860. There are 0.09 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.63). The average (mean) salary is $110,730, close to the median.
Pay range for materials engineers in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,870 | $31.67 |
| 25th percentile | $83,430 | $40.11 |
| Median | $114,670 | $55.13 |
| 75th percentile | $130,900 | $62.93 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $156,090 | $75.04 |
| Average (mean) | $110,730 | $53.24 |
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 | $9,555.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,777.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,410.38 |
| Weekly | $2,205.19 |
| Hourly | $55.13 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $101,230 | 100 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $99,590 | 250 |
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 Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $96,830 | $46.55 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,230 | $49.15 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $100,340 | $48.24 |
| Electrical Engineer | $123,960 | $59.59 |
| Engineers, All Other | $103,880 | $49.94 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $112,490 | $54.08 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $120,020 | $57.70 |
| Environmental Engineer | $94,980 | $45.66 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $92,350 | $44.40 |
| Chemical Engineer | $133,450 | $64.16 |
| Agricultural Engineer | $124,340 | $59.78 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $80,440 | $38.67 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $62,430 | $30.01 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $98,800 | $47.50 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in St. Louis, MO-IL
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 St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median salary for materials engineers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $114,670 a year, or $55.13 an hour. Pay ranges from $65,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $156,090 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The top 10% of materials engineers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn at least $156,090 a year. The top 25% earn $130,900 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $65,870 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $83,430 or less.
How many materials engineers work in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About 120 materials engineers are employed in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.