Materials Engineers Salary in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

Median annual salary $112,290 +3.7% vs national
Median hourly $53.99
10th percentile $66,610
90th percentile $179,630
Employed locally 330
National median $108,310

Compare Materials Engineers salary & buying power

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Materials Engineers
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Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $66,610
    25th
    $87,920
    50th (median)
    $112,290
    75th
    $149,410
    90th
    $179,630

    Philadelphia economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $89,273 2023 • Census ACS
    Materials Engineers salary vs area income 126% Median Materials Engineers salary is 26% 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
    Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $147,080
    Lexington Park, MD $133,850
    Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $117,980
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $116,000
    Reading, PA $103,930
    Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $102,020

    Related occupations in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD

    OccupationMedian salary
    Civil Engineers $96,630
    Industrial Engineers $101,040
    Mechanical Engineers $102,180
    Electrical Engineers $125,350
    Architects, Except Landscape and Naval $100,370
    Architectural and Civil Drafters $65,300

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Materials Engineers make per hour in Philadelphia?

    The median hourly wage for Materials Engineers in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD is $53.99, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $88.74 or more per hour.

    Is Philadelphia above or below average for Materials Engineers salaries?

    The median Materials Engineers salary in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD is 3.7% 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 Philadelphia?

    Entry-level Materials Engineers (10th percentile) earn around $66,610 per year in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $87,920.