Materials Engineers Salary
The median pay for a materials engineers in Idaho is $105,820/year ($50.88/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $57K at the entry level to $154K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.88), which stretches that salary to about $112,718 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,136/month, or 17% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Idaho. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $106K get you in Idaho?
About materials engineers
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What this looks like in Idaho
Materials engineers pay in Idaho tracks closely to the national median, $106K locally vs. $113K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,136/month, 17.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.88 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Idaho
Entry-level materials engineers (10th percentile) start around $57K. Mid-career wages sit at $106K. Top earners bring in $154K or more, a $97K spread from bottom to top.
Materials Engineers salary by metro in Idaho
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho Falls | $107K | +1% | N/A |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Idaho numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a materials engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Idaho?
Yes — at the median salary of $106K, rent takes 17.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,136/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for materials engineers in Idaho?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials engineers typically earn — is $57K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,435/month. At HUD’s $1,136/month FMR, rent would take 33% 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 Idaho?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $106K locally vs. $113K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Idaho compare to the national average for materials engineers?
Idaho pays $106K median vs. the U.S. average of $113K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $113K — below the national median.
How much do materials engineers make in Idaho?
The median is $105,820 a year, that works out to about $51 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $57,250, and experienced materials engineers can clear $154,080. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $106K enough to live in Idaho?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,480/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,136/month, which eats 17.5% 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 Idaho?
Idaho has a Regional Price Parity of 93.88 (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 $112,718 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.