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The average salary for a Materials Development Engineer in the United States stands at $85,952 annually, translating to approximately $41 per hour. These figures reflect the competitive nature of the field, influenced by factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and specific industries. For instance, engineers with more experience typically command higher salaries, with those in senior roles earning significantly more.
Salary levels can vary widely across states. For example, states like California and New York often report higher salaries due to living costs and demand for skilled engineers. In contrast, regions with lower living expenses might offer reduced salaries but can provide similar job opportunities. This variability is crucial for job seekers to consider when evaluating potential positions.
Additionally, exploring industries that prioritize materials development, such as aerospace, electronics, and automotive, can lead to lucrative job offers. Understanding the market dynamics and salary expectations will empower job seekers to make informed decisions and negotiate effectively for their desired roles.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level materials development engineer | $91,800 | $44.14 |
| Mid-level materials development engineer | $106,000 | $50.85 |
| Senior-level materials development engineer | $120,000 | $57.57 |
The highest-paying states for materials development engineers are New Hampshire, Washington, and Massachusetts. The lowest average materials development engineer salary states are Wisconsin, Ohio, and Missouri.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $101,445 | $48.77 |
| 2 | Texas | $96,710 | $46.50 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $101,212 | $48.66 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $104,403 | $50.19 |
| 5 | Georgia | $93,455 | $44.93 |
| 6 | Tennessee | $95,176 | $45.76 |
| 7 | Florida | $95,942 | $46.13 |
| 8 | New Mexico | $91,285 | $43.89 |
| 9 | Alaska | $95,336 | $45.83 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $90,837 | $43.67 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $89,417 | $42.99 |
| 12 | Kentucky | $92,058 | $44.26 |
| 13 | Vermont | $98,785 | $47.49 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $90,321 | $43.42 |
| 15 | Arizona | $89,098 | $42.84 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $87,811 | $42.22 |
| 17 | California | $93,920 | $45.15 |
| 18 | Maine | $97,247 | $46.75 |
| 19 | Oregon | $93,389 | $44.90 |
| 20 | Nevada | $87,879 | $42.25 |
| 21 | Maryland | $96,402 | $46.35 |
| 22 | Michigan | $83,368 | $40.08 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $97,046 | $46.66 |
| 24 | Virginia | $89,872 | $43.21 |
| 25 | New York | $93,430 | $44.92 |
| 26 | Rhode Island | $87,917 | $42.27 |
| 27 | Louisiana | $89,213 | $42.89 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $91,451 | $43.97 |
| 29 | Alabama | $81,627 | $39.24 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $83,609 | $40.20 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $81,535 | $39.20 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $81,563 | $39.21 |
| 33 | Delaware | $85,964 | $41.33 |
| 34 | Montana | $83,997 | $40.38 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $77,643 | $37.33 |
| 36 | Iowa | $78,183 | $37.59 |
| 37 | District of Columbia | $84,490 | $40.62 |
| 38 | Indiana | $75,580 | $36.34 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $74,034 | $35.59 |
| 40 | Ohio | $72,265 | $34.74 |
| 41 | Utah | $77,442 | $37.23 |
| 42 | Kansas | $75,391 | $36.25 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $78,031 | $37.51 |
| 44 | Colorado | $78,977 | $37.97 |
| 45 | Idaho | $78,402 | $37.69 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $61,620 | $29.63 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $62,884 | $30.23 |
| 48 | Illinois | $77,539 | $37.28 |
| 49 | Missouri | $70,747 | $34.01 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $75,039 | $36.08 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $65,508 | $31.49 |
The highest-paying cities for materials development engineers are Seattle, WA, North Andover, MA, and Dublin, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $102,100 | $49.09 |
| 2 | North Andover, MA | $101,067 | $48.59 |
| 3 | Dublin, CA | $100,021 | $48.09 |
| 4 | Tampa, FL | $96,853 | $46.56 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $93,580 | $44.99 |
| 6 | Beaverton, OR | $92,706 | $44.57 |
| 7 | Greenville, NC | $79,739 | $38.34 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $78,834 | $37.90 |
| 9 | Jeffersonville, IN | $75,174 | $36.14 |
A materials development engineer's salary ranges from $66,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $110,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $110,000 | $9,167 | $53 |
| 75th Percentile | $98,000 | $8,167 | $47 |
| Average | $85,952 | $7,163 | $41 |
| 25th Percentile | $75,000 | $6,250 | $36 |
| 10th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
The highest paying types of materials development engineers are senior materials engineer, glass science engineer, and corrosion engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metallurgist | $83,962 | $6,997 | $40.37 | 25,545 |
| Engineer | $92,076 | $7,673 | $44.27 | 618,207 |
| Welding Engineer | $84,923 | $7,077 | $40.83 | 39,405 |
| Metallurgical Engineer | $82,916 | $6,910 | $39.86 | 34,491 |
| Corrosion Engineer | $99,156 | $8,263 | $47.67 | 21,942 |
| Materials Process Engineer | $90,788 | $7,566 | $43.65 | 79,795 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for materials development engineers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Sanchari Chowdhury Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Top companies hiring materials development engineers now:
Materials development engineer salaries at Schrödinger and Argonne National Laboratory are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average materials development engineer salary at companies like Amazon and Micron Technology are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Schrödinger Inc | $108,490 | $52.16 |
| 2 | Argonne National Laboratory | $106,302 | $51.11 |
| 3 | Amazon | $103,518 | $49.77 |
| 4 | Micron Technology | $97,756 | $47.00 |
| 5 | Nike | $95,568 | $45.95 |
| 6 | Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc. | $92,611 | $44.52 |
| 7 | Adidas North America Inc | $90,869 | $43.69 |
| 8 | The Haartz | $88,172 | $42.39 |
| 9 | Chase | $87,824 | $42.22 |
| 10 | VF | $87,442 | $42.04 |
| 11 | First Solar | $87,061 | $41.86 |
| 12 | Relativity | $84,953 | $40.84 |
| 13 | Michelin | $82,693 | $39.76 |
| 14 | Sandvik Coromant | $81,243 | $39.06 |
| 15 | Prysmian Group | $81,189 | $39.03 |
| 16 | Under Armour | $80,597 | $38.75 |
| 17 | Raytheon Technologies | $77,468 | $37.24 |
| 18 | Perry Ellis International | $76,541 | $36.80 |
| 19 | Brooks Running | $72,960 | $35.08 |
The average materials development engineer salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Retail | $93,357 | $44.88 |
| 2 | Automotive | $87,904 | $42.26 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $86,643 | $41.66 |
| 4 | Technology | $84,090 | $40.43 |
| 5 | Education | $82,529 | $39.68 |
The average materials development engineer salary has risen by $9,966 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average materials development engineer earned $75,986 annually, but today, they earn $85,952 a year. That works out to a 2% change in pay for materials development engineers over the last decade.
Compare materials development engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare materials development engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $86,000 | $41.32 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $83,900 | $40.34 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | $83,000 | $39.92 | -2.4% |
| 2022 | $85,000 | $40.88 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | $83,900 | $40.32 | +2.1% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deckers Outdoor | Material Developer II-Teva/Ahnu | Goleta, CA | 06/24/2025 | $85,000 |
| Honda | Materials Development Principal Engineer | Raymond, OH | 06/06/2025 | $97,600 |
| Yeticoolers | Materials Developer, Bags | Denver, CO | 04/28/2025 | $69,520 |
| Yeti | Materials Developer, Bags | Denver, CO | 04/20/2025 | $69,520 |
| Outdoor Research | Materials Developer | Seattle, WA | 04/16/2025 | $80,000 |
| Yeticoolers | Materials Developer, Bags | Denver, CO | 03/28/2025 | $69,520 |
| Yeti Coolers | Materials Developer, Bags | Denver, CO | 03/27/2025 | $69,520 |
| Aloyoga | Raw Materials Developer | Commerce, CA | 03/26/2025 | $90,000 |
| Alo Yoga | Raw Materials Developer | Commerce, CA | 03/25/2025 | $90,000 |
| Yeti | Materials Developer, Bags | Denver, CO | 03/25/2025 | $69,520 |
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