Materials Engineers Salary
The median pay for a materials engineers in Florida is $118,780/year ($57.11/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $73K at the entry level to $166K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.58), that's roughly $120,491 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,658/month, or 20.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Florida. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $119K get you in Florida?
About materials engineers
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What this looks like in Florida
Materials engineers pay in Florida tracks closely to the national median, $119K locally vs. $113K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,658/month, 21.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 98.58) 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, Florida
Entry-level materials engineers (10th percentile) start around $73K. Mid-career wages sit at $119K. Top earners bring in $166K or more, a $93K spread from bottom to top.
Materials Engineers salary by metro in Florida
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $138K | +17% | N/A |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | $124K | +4% | 130 |
| Jacksonville | $104K | -12% | 60 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $101K | -15% | 110 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $97K | -19% | 130 |
Compare to other states
Track materials engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Florida numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a materials engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Florida?
Yes — at the median salary of $119K, rent takes 21.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,658/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for materials engineers in Florida?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials engineers typically earn — is $73K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,402/month. At HUD’s $1,658/month FMR, rent would take 38% 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 Florida?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $119K locally vs. $113K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Florida compare to the national average for materials engineers?
Florida pays $119K median vs. the U.S. average of $113K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $120K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do materials engineers make in Florida?
The median is $118,780 a year, that works out to about $57 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $73,370, and experienced materials engineers can clear $166,490. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $119K enough to live in Florida?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,662/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,658/month, which eats 21.6% 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 Florida?
Florida has a Regional Price Parity of 98.58 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median materials engineers salary is worth about $120,491 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.