Kentucky Median
$100,620
per year
Hourly Rate
$48.38
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-11% vs US median
US median $112,860
State Rank
#30 of 45
280 employed here
How much does a Material Engineers make in Kentucky?
A Material Engineers working in Kentucky earns a median salary of $100,620 per year, or about $48.38 per hour. That is 11% below the national median of $112,860 for this occupation.
Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $84,610 while the top 10% make $132,800 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $96,300 and $119,280 a year.
Material Engineers salary range in Kentucky
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $84,610 | $40.68 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $96,300 | $46.30 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $100,620 | $48.38 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $119,280 | $57.35 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $132,800 | $63.85 |
|
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks 30th 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 $128,670California $128,470Illinois $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 $100,840Kansas $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 Kentucky
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 Kentucky pay ($100,620) 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 Kentucky?
The median Material Engineers salary in Kentucky is $100,620 per year, or about $48.38 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $84,610 at the entry level to $132,800 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Materials Engineers about 11% less than the national median of $112,860. Kentucky ranks 30th out of 45 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Materials Engineers?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $100,620 a year. About 280 Materials Engineers are employed in Kentucky. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), 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.