Materials Engineer salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Materials Engineers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median of $116,720 a year ($56.12 an hour), based on BLS data for 190 workers.
Pay ranges from $83,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $168,460 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $112,860. Pay here is about the same as the Virginia statewide median of $116,720. There are 0.25 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $118,940, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials engineers in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $83,840 | $40.31 |
| 25th percentile | $83,840 | $40.31 |
| Median | $116,720 | $56.12 |
| 75th percentile | $139,010 | $66.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,460 | $80.99 |
| Average (mean) | $118,940 | $57.18 |
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 other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $140,640 | 660 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $117,000 | 80 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $104,910 | 140 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $104,310 | n/a |
| Richmond, VA | $102,440 | 200 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $98,380 | 170 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineer | $100,280 | $48.21 |
| Civil Engineer | $94,680 | $45.52 |
| Electrical Engineer | $103,210 | $49.62 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $110,510 | $53.13 |
| Engineers, All Other | $138,590 | $66.63 |
| Industrial Engineer | $101,500 | $48.80 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $102,060 | $49.07 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $139,010 | $66.83 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $131,710 | $63.32 |
| Environmental Engineer | $102,110 | $49.09 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $97,870 | $47.06 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $102,720 | $49.39 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $96,870 | $46.57 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $57,760 | $27.77 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
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 Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median salary for materials engineers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $116,720 a year, or $56.12 an hour. Pay ranges from $83,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $168,460 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The top 10% of materials engineers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn at least $168,460 a year. The top 25% earn $139,010 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $83,840 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $83,840 or less.
How many materials engineers work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
About 190 materials engineers are employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.