Materials Engineers Salary
The median pay for a materials engineers in North Carolina is $104,240/year ($50.11/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $154K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $112,497 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 19.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $104K get you in North Carolina?
About materials engineers
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Materials engineers pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $104K locally vs. $113K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,284/month, 20% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, North Carolina
Entry-level materials engineers (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $104K. Top earners bring in $154K or more, a $75K spread from bottom to top.
Materials Engineers salary by metro in North Carolina
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $117K | +12% | 80 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $105K | +1% | 140 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $104K | +0% | N/A |
| Greensboro-High Point | $98K | -6% | 170 |
Compare to other states
Track materials engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a materials engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $104K, rent takes 20% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for materials engineers in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials engineers typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,690/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is materials engineer a high-paying job in North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $104K locally vs. $113K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for materials engineers?
North Carolina pays $104K median vs. the U.S. average of $113K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $112K — below the national median.
How much do materials engineers make in North Carolina?
The median is $104,240 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $78,160, and experienced materials engineers can clear $153,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $104K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,419/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 20% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $112,497 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.