How much does a materials engineer make in California?
$128,500a year
Median yearly pay for materials engineers in California. That is $61.76 an hour or $10,710 a month.
- Hourly
- $61.76
- Vs. national median
- +14%
- Rank among states
- 6 of 45
- Jobs in the state
- 3,020
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $82,460Median: $128,500Highest 10%: $183,900
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $82,460 | $39.64 | |
| 25th | $103,300 | $49.64 | |
| Median | $128,500 | $61.76 | |
| 75th | $158,000 | $75.95 | |
| 90th | $183,900 | $88.40 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $156,700 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $130,400 |
| Sacramento, CA | $130,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | $129,500 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $125,200 |
| San Diego, CA | $124,200 |
| Oxnard, CA | $122,500 |
| Riverside, CA | $109,100 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for materials engineers.
| 3. Washington | $139,800 |
| 4. Delaware | $131,300 |
| 5. Louisiana | $128,700 |
| 6. California | $128,500 |
| 7. Illinois | $126,600 |
| 8. New York | $125,900 |
| 9. Colorado | $124,000 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a materials engineer make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $61.76 ($128,500 a year).
Do materials engineers make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $128,500 against $112,900 nationally, 14% more.
Where does California rank for materials engineer pay?
California ranks 6 of 45 states.
Which city in California pays materials engineers the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $156,700 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.