Materials Engineers Salary in Boulder, CO

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Boulder, CO

Median annual salary $141,320 +30.5% vs national
Median hourly $67.94
10th percentile $87,290
90th percentile $215,270
Employed locally 100
National median $108,310

Compare Materials Engineers salary & buying power

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Materials Engineers
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Boulder, CO
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $87,290
    25th
    $113,200
    50th (median)
    $141,320
    75th
    $192,280
    90th
    $215,270

    Boulder economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,772 2023 • Census ACS
    Materials Engineers salary vs area income 138% Median Materials Engineers salary is 38% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Materials Engineers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $151,260
    Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $147,080
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $140,810
    Washington $140,810
    Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $140,180
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $137,650

    Nearby metros — Materials Engineers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $140,810
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $135,500
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $134,560
    Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $124,990
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $123,700
    Colorado $121,430

    Related occupations in Boulder, CO

    OccupationMedian salary
    Aerospace Engineers $143,210
    Mechanical Engineers $110,650
    Industrial Engineers $110,710
    Electronics Engineers, Except Computer $138,600
    Electrical Engineers $127,670
    Civil Engineers $102,990

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Materials Engineers make per hour in Boulder?

    The median hourly wage for Materials Engineers in Boulder, CO is $67.94, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $96.30 or more per hour.

    Is Boulder above or below average for Materials Engineers salaries?

    The median Materials Engineers salary in Boulder, CO is 30.5% above the national median of $108,310. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Materials Engineers in Boulder?

    Entry-level Materials Engineers (10th percentile) earn around $87,290 per year in Boulder, CO. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $113,200.