Materials Engineer salary in Virginia
Materials Engineers in Virginia earn a median of $116,720 a year ($56.12 an hour), based on BLS data for 620 workers.
Pay ranges from $77,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $170,210 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $112,860. Virginia ranks 16th of 45 states for materials engineers pay. There are 0.15 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $117,660, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials engineers in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,490 | $37.25 |
| 25th percentile | $83,840 | $40.31 |
| Median | $116,720 | $56.12 |
| 75th percentile | $137,400 | $66.06 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $170,210 | $81.83 |
| Average (mean) | $117,660 | $56.57 |
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 | $9,726.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,863.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,489.23 |
| Weekly | $2,244.62 |
| Hourly | $56.12 |
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 Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $140,640 | 660 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $116,720 | 190 |
| Richmond, VA | $102,440 | 200 |
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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $97,120 | $46.69 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,180 | $50.09 |
| Electrical Engineer | $119,030 | $57.23 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,550 | $49.30 |
| Engineers, All Other | $148,160 | $71.23 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $119,990 | $57.69 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $143,210 | $68.85 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $139,030 | $66.84 |
| Environmental Engineer | $104,940 | $50.45 |
| Chemical Engineer | $136,380 | $65.57 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $104,920 | $50.44 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $106,140 | $51.03 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $104,960 | $50.46 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $128,890 | $61.97 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for materials engineers in Virginia is $116,720 a year, or $56.12 an hour. Pay ranges from $77,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $170,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in Virginia?
The top 10% of materials engineers in Virginia earn at least $170,210 a year. The top 25% earn $137,400 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $77,490 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $83,840 or less.
How many materials engineers work in Virginia?
About 620 materials engineers are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.