Materials Engineers Salary in Charlotte, NC-SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC

Median annual salary $102,080 -5.8% vs national
Median hourly $49.08
10th percentile $79,210
90th percentile $157,610
Employed locally 140
National median $108,310

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Materials Engineers
in
Charlotte, NC-SC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $79,210
    25th
    $83,840
    50th (median)
    $102,080
    75th
    $132,410
    90th
    $157,610

    Charlotte economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $80,201 2023 • Census ACS
    Materials Engineers salary vs area income 127% Median Materials Engineers salary is 27% 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
    Boulder, CO $141,320
    Washington $140,810
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $140,810
    Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $140,180

    Nearby metros — Materials Engineers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $135,500
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $134,560
    Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $119,020
    Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $118,830
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $110,700
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $102,530

    Related occupations in Charlotte, NC-SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Civil Engineers $100,040
    Mechanical Engineers $100,990
    Industrial Engineers $102,110
    Electrical Engineers $114,450
    Engineers, All Other $125,340
    Architects, Except Landscape and Naval $86,530

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Materials Engineers make per hour in Charlotte?

    The median hourly wage for Materials Engineers in Charlotte, NC-SC is $49.08, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $82.21 or more per hour.

    Is Charlotte above or below average for Materials Engineers salaries?

    The median Materials Engineers salary in Charlotte, NC-SC is 5.8% below 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 Charlotte?

    Entry-level Materials Engineers (10th percentile) earn around $79,210 per year in Charlotte, NC-SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $83,840.