Materials Engineers Salary in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI
The median pay for a materials engineers in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI is $77,440/year ($37.23/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $120K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 95.55), that's roughly $81,047 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,519/month, or 29.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $77K get you in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood’s Regional Price Parity (95.55). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About materials engineers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI
Entry-level materials engineers (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $120K or more, a $70K spread from bottom to top.
Materials Engineers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $141K | +30% | 1,240 |
| Maryland | $131K | +21% | 960 |
| Delaware | $128K | +18% | 50 |
| California | $128K | +18% | 2,760 |
| Oregon | $127K | +18% | 90 |
| New York | $122K | +13% | 750 |
| Alaska | $121K | +11% | 70 |
| Texas | $116K | +7% | 1,730 |
| Wyoming | $114K | +6% | 40 |
| Massachusetts | $111K | +3% | 1,060 |
| South Carolina | $111K | +2% | 440 |
| Alabama | $110K | +2% | 660 |
| Tennessee | $109K | +0% | 550 |
| Arizona | $108K | -0% | 380 |
| Minnesota | $106K | -2% | 180 |
| Virginia | $106K | -2% | 620 |
| Ohio | $106K | -2% | 1,770 |
| Illinois | $106K | -2% | 180 |
| New Hampshire | $106K | -2% | 70 |
| Kentucky | $105K | -3% | 340 |
| Connecticut | $104K | -4% | 400 |
| Florida | $104K | -4% | 680 |
| Idaho | $102K | -6% | 80 |
| Oklahoma | $101K | -7% | 230 |
| Louisiana | $101K | -7% | 80 |
| Montana | $101K | -7% | 180 |
| Arkansas | $100K | -7% | 110 |
| New Jersey | $100K | -7% | 290 |
| Missouri | $99K | -8% | 270 |
| Indiana | $98K | -9% | 470 |
| West Virginia | $98K | -10% | 50 |
| Nevada | $98K | -10% | 110 |
| Georgia | $97K | -10% | 550 |
| Kansas | $97K | -10% | 260 |
| Michigan | $97K | -11% | 1,030 |
| Wisconsin | $97K | -11% | 320 |
| North Carolina | $96K | -12% | 770 |
| Vermont | $93K | -14% | 40 |
| Rhode Island | $92K | -15% | 40 |
| Mississippi | $91K | -16% | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $89K | -18% | 780 |
| Maine | $89K | -18% | 110 |
| Utah | $86K | -21% | 490 |
| Nebraska | $85K | -22% | 140 |
| Iowa | $77K | -29% | 310 |
Showing 1–10 of 45 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track materials engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do materials engineers make in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI?
The median is $77,440 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,230, and experienced materials engineers can clear $119,860. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,965/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,519/month, which eats 30.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a materials engineers salary go in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood?
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood has a Regional Price Parity of 95.55 (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 $81,047 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.