Materials Engineers Salary
The median pay for a materials engineers in Massachusetts is $114,100/year ($54.85/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $167K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.09), that's roughly $113,997 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,347/month, about 32.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Massachusetts. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $114K get you in Massachusetts?
About materials engineers
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What this looks like in Massachusetts
Materials engineers pay in Massachusetts tracks closely to the national median, $114K locally vs. $113K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $2,347/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 100.09) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Massachusetts
Entry-level materials engineers (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $114K. Top earners bring in $167K or more, a $89K spread from bottom to top.
Materials Engineers salary by metro in Massachusetts
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester | $114K | +0% | 220 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $111K | -2% | 1,020 |
Compare to other states
Track materials engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Massachusetts numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a materials engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Massachusetts?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $114K, rent takes 34% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,347/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for materials engineers in Massachusetts?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials engineers typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,679/month. At HUD’s $2,347/month FMR, rent would take 50% 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 Massachusetts?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $114K locally vs. $113K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Massachusetts compare to the national average for materials engineers?
Massachusetts pays $114K median vs. the U.S. average of $113K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $114K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do materials engineers make in Massachusetts?
The median is $114,100 a year, that works out to about $55 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $77,980, and experienced materials engineers can clear $167,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $114K enough to live in Massachusetts?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,913/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,347/month, which eats 34% 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 Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a Regional Price Parity of 100.09 (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 $113,997 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.