Materials Engineer salary in Washington
Materials Engineers in Washington earn a median of $139,840 a year ($67.23 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,000 workers.
Pay ranges from $92,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $199,250 for the top 10%. That is 24% higher than the national median of $112,860. Washington ranks 3rd of 45 states for materials engineers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.28 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $149,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials engineers in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $92,570 | $44.50 |
| 25th percentile | $122,960 | $59.11 |
| Median | $139,840 | $67.23 |
| 75th percentile | $176,290 | $84.76 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $199,250 | $95.79 |
| Average (mean) | $149,070 | $71.67 |
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 | $11,653.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,826.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,378.46 |
| Weekly | $2,689.23 |
| Hourly | $67.23 |
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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $156,130 | 820 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $128,250 | 70 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $110,000 | $52.89 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $110,430 | $53.09 |
| Electrical Engineer | $132,710 | $63.81 |
| Industrial Engineer | $129,050 | $62.04 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $158,370 | $76.14 |
| Engineers, All Other | $134,570 | $64.70 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $130,270 | $62.63 |
| Environmental Engineer | $125,460 | $60.32 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $169,120 | $81.31 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $129,480 | $62.25 |
| Chemical Engineer | $128,290 | $61.68 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $126,590 | $60.86 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $109,550 | $52.67 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $134,800 | $64.81 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for materials engineers in Washington is $139,840 a year, or $67.23 an hour. Pay ranges from $92,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $199,250 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in Washington?
The top 10% of materials engineers in Washington earn at least $199,250 a year. The top 25% earn $176,290 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $92,570 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $122,960 or less.
How many materials engineers work in Washington?
About 1,000 materials engineers are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.