Materials Engineers Salary
The median pay for a materials engineers in Rhode Island is $87,180/year ($41.91/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $140K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.77), that's roughly $85,664 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,544/month, or 28.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Rhode Island. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $87K get you in Rhode Island?
About materials engineers
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What this looks like in Rhode Island
Pay for materials engineers in Rhode Island runs about 23% below the U.S. median of $113K. Rent runs $1,544/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 101.77) 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, Rhode Island
Entry-level materials engineers (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $87K. Top earners bring in $140K or more, a $62K spread from bottom to top.
Materials Engineers salary by metro in Rhode Island
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick | $102K | +17% | 130 |
Compare to other states
Track materials engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Rhode Island numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a materials engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Rhode Island?
Yes — at the median salary of $87K, rent takes 27.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,544/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for materials engineers in Rhode Island?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials engineers typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,696/month. At HUD’s $1,544/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 Rhode Island?
Local pay runs 23% below the national median — $87K here vs. $113K nationally.
How does Rhode Island compare to the national average for materials engineers?
Rhode Island pays $87K median vs. the U.S. average of $113K — that’s -23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.77), the purchasing-power equivalent is $86K — below the national median.
How much do materials engineers make in Rhode Island?
The median is $87,180 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $78,270, and experienced materials engineers can clear $140,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $87K enough to live in Rhode Island?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,566/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,544/month, which eats 27.7% 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 Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has a Regional Price Parity of 101.77 (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 $85,664 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.