Materials Engineers Salary in Virginia Beach, VA-NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC

Median annual salary $118,830 +9.7% vs national
Median hourly $57.13
10th percentile $80,260
90th percentile $172,780
Employed locally 210
National median $108,310

Compare Materials Engineers salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Virginia Beach, VA-NC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Materials Engineers
in
Virginia Beach, VA-NC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $80,260
    25th
    $81,480
    50th (median)
    $118,830
    75th
    $136,300
    90th
    $172,780

    Virginia Beach economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $80,533 2023 • Census ACS
    Materials Engineers salary vs area income 148% Median Materials Engineers salary is 48% 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
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $151,260
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $135,500
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $135,400
    Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $107,560
    Richmond, VA $102,700
    Nevada $97,580

    Related occupations in Virginia Beach, VA-NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Mechanical Engineers $97,470
    Civil Engineers $94,060
    Marine Engineers and Naval Architects $100,630
    Electrical Engineers $106,070
    Engineers, All Other $129,310
    Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians $94,830

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Materials Engineers make per hour in Virginia Beach?

    The median hourly wage for Materials Engineers in Virginia Beach, VA-NC is $57.13, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $80.99 or more per hour.

    Is Virginia Beach above or below average for Materials Engineers salaries?

    The median Materials Engineers salary in Virginia Beach, VA-NC is 9.7% 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 Virginia Beach?

    Entry-level Materials Engineers (10th percentile) earn around $80,260 per year in Virginia Beach, VA-NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $81,480.