Materials Engineers Salary
The median pay for a materials engineers in New York is $125,900/year ($60.53/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $74K at the entry level to $168K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.21), that's roughly $128,195 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,917/month, or 25.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New York. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $126K get you in New York?
About materials engineers
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What this looks like in New York
New York sits well above the national pay line for materials engineers, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $113K. Rent runs $1,917/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.21) 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, New York
Entry-level materials engineers (10th percentile) start around $74K. Mid-career wages sit at $126K. Top earners bring in $168K or more, a $94K spread from bottom to top.
Materials Engineers salary by metro in New York
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $147K | +17% | 330 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $135K | +7% | 130 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $106K | -15% | 80 |
| Utica-Rome | $72K | -43% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track materials engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New York numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a materials engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in New York?
Yes — at the median salary of $126K, rent takes 25.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,917/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for materials engineers in New York?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials engineers typically earn — is $74K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,435/month. At HUD’s $1,917/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 New York?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $126K here vs. $113K nationally.
How does New York compare to the national average for materials engineers?
New York pays $126K median vs. the U.S. average of $113K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.21), the purchasing-power equivalent is $128K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do materials engineers make in New York?
The median is $125,900 a year, that works out to about $61 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $73,920, and experienced materials engineers can clear $168,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $126K enough to live in New York?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,525/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,917/month, which eats 25.5% 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 New York?
New York has a Regional Price Parity of 98.21 (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 $128,195 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.