Materials Engineers Salary
The median pay for a materials engineers in Alaska is $123,360/year ($59.31/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $80K at the entry level to $154K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.31), that's roughly $118,263 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,643/month, or 20.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Alaska. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $123K get you in Alaska?
About materials engineers
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What this looks like in Alaska
Materials engineers pay in Alaska tracks closely to the national median, $123K locally vs. $113K nationwide, a 9% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,643/month, 20.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 104.31) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alaska
Entry-level materials engineers (10th percentile) start around $80K. Mid-career wages sit at $123K. Top earners bring in $154K or more, a $74K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track materials engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alaska numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a materials engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alaska?
Yes — at the median salary of $123K, rent takes 20.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,643/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for materials engineers in Alaska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials engineers typically earn — is $80K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,798/month. At HUD’s $1,643/month FMR, rent would take 34% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is materials engineer a high-paying job in Alaska?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $123K locally vs. $113K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Alaska compare to the national average for materials engineers?
Alaska pays $123K median vs. the U.S. average of $113K — that’s +9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.31), the purchasing-power equivalent is $118K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do materials engineers make in Alaska?
The median is $123,360 a year, that works out to about $59 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $79,970, and experienced materials engineers can clear $154,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $123K enough to live in Alaska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,923/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,643/month, which eats 20.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a materials engineers salary go in Alaska?
Alaska has a Regional Price Parity of 104.31 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median materials engineers salary is worth about $118,263 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do materials engineers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.