How much does a materials engineer make in San Jose?
$156,700a year
Median yearly pay for materials engineers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area. That is $75.35 an hour or $13,060 a month.
- Hourly
- $75.35
- Vs. national median
- +39%
- Rank among cities
- 1 of 90
- Jobs in the area
- 550
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $101,500Median: $156,700Highest 10%: $218,800
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $101,500 | $48.77 | |
| 25th | $130,800 | $62.87 | |
| Median | $156,700 | $75.35 | |
| 75th | $180,100 | $86.60 | |
| 90th | $218,800 | $105.17 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for materials engineers.
| 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 |
Related jobs in San Jose
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $209,900 |
| Electronics Engineer | $194,400 |
| Electrical Engineer | $187,100 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $181,600 |
| Engineer | $169,700 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $168,000 |
| Health and Safety Engineer | $143,100 |
| Industrial Engineer | $137,000 |
| Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer | $136,500 |
| Civil Engineer | $130,300 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a materials engineer make an hour in San Jose?
The median hourly pay in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $75.35 ($156,700 a year).
Do materials engineers make more in San Jose than the national average?
Yes: $156,700 against $112,900 nationally, 39% more.
How does San Jose compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $128,500, so San Jose pays 22% more.
Where does San Jose rank for materials engineer pay?
1 of 90 metro areas with data.
How much does a materials engineer make starting out in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% make $101,500 or less a year; the top 10% make $218,800 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.