Materials Engineer salary in Tennessee
Materials Engineers in Tennessee earn a median of $91,940 a year ($44.20 an hour), based on BLS data for 330 workers.
Pay ranges from $63,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $149,300 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $112,860. Tennessee ranks 40th of 45 states for materials engineers pay. There are 0.10 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.70). The average (mean) salary is $102,560, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials engineers in Tennessee
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,760 | $30.65 |
| 25th percentile | $79,700 | $38.32 |
| Median | $91,940 | $44.20 |
| 75th percentile | $122,790 | $59.03 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $149,300 | $71.78 |
| Average (mean) | $102,560 | $49.31 |
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 | $7,661.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,830.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,536.15 |
| Weekly | $1,768.08 |
| Hourly | $44.20 |
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 Tennessee
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $103,360 | 70 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $89,040 | 70 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $85,000 | 50 |
| Knoxville, TN | $83,240 | 80 |
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 Tennessee
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $99,080 | $47.64 |
| Civil Engineer | $95,910 | $46.11 |
| Engineers, All Other | $96,640 | $46.46 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $99,550 | $47.86 |
| Electrical Engineer | $104,450 | $50.21 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $122,920 | $59.10 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $128,510 | $61.78 |
| Environmental Engineer | $97,190 | $46.73 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $106,470 | $51.19 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $130,830 | $62.90 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $100,390 | $48.26 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $58,070 | $27.92 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $94,030 | $45.21 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $63,750 | $30.65 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Tennessee
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 Tennessee?
The median salary for materials engineers in Tennessee is $91,940 a year, or $44.20 an hour. Pay ranges from $63,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $149,300 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in Tennessee?
The top 10% of materials engineers in Tennessee earn at least $149,300 a year. The top 25% earn $122,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in Tennessee?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $63,760 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $79,700 or less.
How many materials engineers work in Tennessee?
About 330 materials engineers are employed in Tennessee, not counting the self-employed.