California Median
$128,470
per year
Hourly Rate
$61.76
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+14% vs US median
US median $112,860
State Rank
#6 of 45
3,020 employed here
How much does a Material Engineers make in California?
A Material Engineers working in California earns a median salary of $128,470 per year, or about $61.76 per hour. That is 14% above the national median of $112,860 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $82,460 while the top 10% make $183,880 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $103,250 and $157,980 a year.
Material Engineers salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,460 | $39.64 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $103,250 | $49.64 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $128,470 | $61.76 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $157,980 | $75.95 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $183,880 | $88.40 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 6th out of 45 states and territories for Material Engineers pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Material Engineers salary in other states
New Mexico $165,600Maryland $140,640Washington $139,840Delaware $131,320Louisiana $128,670Illinois $126,620New York $125,900Colorado $124,030Alaska $123,360Oregon $122,850Connecticut $122,300South Carolina $121,610Florida $118,780Texas $117,700Virginia $116,720Massachusetts $114,100Wyoming $110,970Alabama $107,580New Jersey $106,920Arizona $106,810Ohio $106,510Minnesota $106,220Idaho $105,820North Carolina $104,240Arkansas $103,900New Hampshire $101,290Indiana $101,120Georgia $100,840Kentucky $100,620Kansas $100,000Oklahoma $99,950Nevada $99,010Missouri $98,860Nebraska $98,270Pennsylvania $98,030Maine $97,110Wisconsin $96,210Michigan $94,050Tennessee $91,940Utah $88,080Rhode Island $87,180Mississippi $78,700Montana $76,030Iowa $64,270
Working as a Material Engineers in California
Nationally, about 23,000 people work as Materials Engineers in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($128,470) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Material Engineers make in California?
The median Material Engineers salary in California is $128,470 per year, or about $61.76 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $82,460 at the entry level to $183,880 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Materials Engineers about 14% more than the national median of $112,860. California ranks 6th out of 45 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Materials Engineers?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $128,470 a year. About 3,020 Materials Engineers are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Material Engineers salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.