How much does a materials engineer make in San Diego?
$124,200a year
Median yearly pay for materials engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $59.70 an hour or $10,350 a month.
- Hourly
- $59.70
- Vs. national median
- +10%
- Rank among cities
- 22 of 90
- Jobs in the area
- 260
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $67,660Median: $124,200Highest 10%: $170,000
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $67,660 | $32.53 | |
| 25th | $93,200 | $44.81 | |
| Median | $124,200 | $59.70 | |
| 75th | $135,600 | $65.19 | |
| 90th | $170,000 | $81.74 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for materials engineers.
| San Jose, CA | $156,700 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $130,400 |
| Sacramento, CA | $130,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | $129,500 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $125,200 |
| Oxnard, CA | $122,500 |
| Riverside, CA | $109,100 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $174,400 |
| Electronics Engineer | $156,500 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $135,000 |
| Engineer | $132,800 |
| Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer | $128,300 |
| Electrical Engineer | $127,300 |
| Health and Safety Engineer | $124,700 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $121,800 |
| Architect | $120,000 |
| Environmental Engineer | $119,400 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a materials engineer make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $59.70 ($124,200 a year).
Do materials engineers make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $124,200 against $112,900 nationally, 10% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $128,500, so San Diego pays 3% less.
Where does San Diego rank for materials engineer pay?
22 of 90 metro areas with data.
How much does a materials engineer make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $67,660 or less a year; the top 10% make $170,000 or more.
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.