Materials Engineer salary in Wisconsin
Materials Engineers in Wisconsin earn a median of $96,210 a year ($46.25 an hour), based on BLS data for 280 workers.
Pay ranges from $65,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $127,820 for the top 10%. That is 15% lower than the national median of $112,860. Wisconsin ranks 38th 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 0.66). The average (mean) salary is $95,180, close to the median.
Pay range for materials engineers in Wisconsin
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,160 | $31.33 |
| 25th percentile | $76,330 | $36.70 |
| Median | $96,210 | $46.25 |
| 75th percentile | $109,610 | $52.70 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $127,820 | $61.45 |
| Average (mean) | $95,180 | $45.76 |
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 | $8,017.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,008.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,700.38 |
| Weekly | $1,850.19 |
| Hourly | $46.25 |
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 Wisconsin
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | $111,050 | 30 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $110,350 | 130 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $96,790 | 90 |
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 Wisconsin
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $96,980 | $46.62 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $95,870 | $46.09 |
| Civil Engineer | $94,600 | $45.48 |
| Electrical Engineer | $99,700 | $47.93 |
| Environmental Engineer | $89,990 | $43.26 |
| Engineers, All Other | $110,360 | $53.06 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $93,710 | $45.05 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $83,670 | $40.23 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $92,700 | $44.57 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $110,430 | $53.09 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $88,400 | $42.50 |
| Chemical Engineer | $97,660 | $46.95 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $78,850 | $37.91 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $95,950 | $46.13 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin?
The median salary for materials engineers in Wisconsin is $96,210 a year, or $46.25 an hour. Pay ranges from $65,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $127,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in Wisconsin?
The top 10% of materials engineers in Wisconsin earn at least $127,820 a year. The top 25% earn $109,610 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in Wisconsin?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $65,160 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $76,330 or less.
How many materials engineers work in Wisconsin?
About 280 materials engineers are employed in Wisconsin, not counting the self-employed.