Materials Engineers Salary in Raleigh-Cary, NC
The median pay for a materials engineers in Raleigh-Cary, NC is $86,500/year ($41.59/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $83K at the entry level to $148K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.16), that's roughly $88,121 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,750/month — about 31.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $87K get you in Raleigh-Cary?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Raleigh-Cary’s Regional Price Parity (98.16). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction.
About materials engineers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Raleigh-Cary, NC
Entry-level materials engineers (10th percentile) start around $83K. Mid-career wages sit at $87K. Top earners bring in $148K or more, a $65K 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 Raleigh-Cary numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do materials engineers make in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The median is $86,500 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $83,040, and experienced materials engineers can clear $148,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $87K enough to live in Raleigh-Cary?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,446/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,750/month, which eats 32.1% 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 Raleigh-Cary?
Raleigh-Cary has a Regional Price Parity of 98.16 (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 $88,121 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.