Materials Engineers Salary in Houston, TX

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX

Median annual salary $147,080 +35.8% vs national
Median hourly $70.71
10th percentile $68,480
90th percentile —
Employed locally 440
National median $108,310

Compare Materials Engineers salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Houston, TX stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Materials Engineers
in
Houston, TX
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $68,480
    25th
    $101,410
    50th (median)
    $147,080
    75th
    $191,880

    Houston economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $80,458 2023 • Census ACS
    Materials Engineers salary vs area income 183% Median Materials Engineers salary is 83% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Materials Engineers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $151,260
    Boulder, CO $141,320
    Washington $140,810
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $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
    Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $126,350
    Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $103,190
    San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $96,610

    Related occupations in Houston, TX

    OccupationMedian salary
    Civil Engineers$98,690
    Industrial Engineers$116,170
    Mechanical Engineers$126,870
    Petroleum Engineers$159,990
    Architectural and Civil Drafters$60,880
    Electrical Engineers$110,210

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Materials Engineers make per hour in Houston?

    The median hourly wage for Materials Engineers in Houston, TX is $70.71, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $118.09 or more per hour.

    Is Houston above or below average for Materials Engineers salaries?

    The median Materials Engineers salary in Houston, TX is 35.8% 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 Houston?

    Entry-level Materials Engineers (10th percentile) earn around $68,480 per year in Houston, TX. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $101,410.