Materials Engineers Salary in Durham, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

Median annual salary $119,020 +9.9% vs national
Median hourly $57.22
10th percentile $79,310
90th percentile $126,880
Employed locally 80
National median $108,310

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Materials Engineers
in
Durham, NC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $79,310
    25th
    $99,210
    50th (median)
    $119,020
    75th
    $126,880
    90th
    $126,880

    Durham economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $81,017 2023 • Census ACS
    Materials Engineers salary vs area income 147% Median Materials Engineers salary is 47% 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
    Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $118,830
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $110,700
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $102,530
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $102,080

    Related occupations in Durham, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Industrial Engineers$104,230
    Electrical Engineers$112,090
    Civil Engineers$92,670
    Mechanical Engineers$101,560
    Surveying and Mapping Technicians$61,000
    Engineers, All Other$107,890

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Materials Engineers make per hour in Durham?

    The median hourly wage for Materials Engineers in Durham, NC is $57.22, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $77.26 or more per hour.

    Is Durham above or below average for Materials Engineers salaries?

    The median Materials Engineers salary in Durham, NC is 9.9% 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 Durham?

    Entry-level Materials Engineers (10th percentile) earn around $79,310 per year in Durham, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $99,210.