Materials Engineers: 22,770 jobs, median pay $112,860 · where the jobs are in the U.S.

22,770

Jobs in the U.S.

People employed, May 2025

$112,860

Median pay a year

Middle half: $88,080–$142,720

1,300

Annual openings

10-year change: +7.5%

1,630

LCA filings, last 4 quarters

−10.1% from the prior 4 quarters

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 88 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings

Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $125,200 · LCA filings 251,250$125,20025

Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHMedian pay $111,480 · LCA filings 381,020$111,48038

Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAMedian pay $156,130 · LCA filings 18820$156,13018

Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVMedian pay $140,640 · LCA filings 7660$140,6407

Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXMedian pay $123,250 · LCA filings 15560$123,25015

San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAMedian pay $156,730 · LCA filings 210550$156,730210

Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GAMedian pay $101,100 · LCA filings 35530$101,10035

Denver–Aurora–Centennial, COMedian pay $125,750 · LCA filings 7480$125,7507

Detroit–Warren–Dearborn, MIMedian pay $100,070 · LCA filings 23460$100,07023

Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $117,700 · LCA filings 18440$117,70018

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings

San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployment 550 · LCA filings 210$156,730550210

Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAEmployment 820 · LCA filings 18$156,13082018

Boulder, COEmployment 210 · LCA filings 5$151,9402105

New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJEmployment 330 · LCA filings 17$147,49033017

Baltimore–Columbia–Towson, MDEmployment 200 · LCA filings 2$144,0102002

Metro areas with the most LCA filings

Labor Condition Applications filed by employers with the U.S. Department of Labor, Apr 2025–Mar 2026. They’re used in the H-1B process and show filing history, not hires or current job openings.

Metro areaLCA filingsEmployers with LCA filingsEmployment

Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro, OR–WAEmployers with LCA filings 12 · Employment 703811270

San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployers with LCA filings 48 · Employment 55021048550

Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler, AZEmployers with LCA filings 16 · Employment 31017516310

San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployers with LCA filings 43 · Employment 34012743340

Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHEmployers with LCA filings 29 · Employment 1,02038291,020

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV

Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $108,638 · Level III $127,587 · Level IV $146,557$89,669$108,638$127,587$146,557

Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHLevel II $103,189 · Level III $121,784 · Level IV $140,358$84,614$103,189$121,784$140,358

Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WALevel II $130,499 · Level III $153,546 · Level IV $176,613$107,432$130,499$153,546$176,613

Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVLevel II $120,682 · Level III $144,830 · Level IV $168,958$96,554$120,682$144,830$168,958

Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXLevel II $107,307 · Level III $138,507 · Level IV $169,707$76,107$107,307$138,507$169,707

San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CALevel II $133,661 · Level III $156,499 · Level IV $179,358$110,802$133,661$156,499$179,358

Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GALevel II $92,498 · Level III $109,970 · Level IV $127,442$75,026$92,498$109,970$127,442

Denver–Aurora–Centennial, COLevel II $95,805 · Level III $121,638 · Level IV $147,493$69,950$95,805$121,638$147,493

Detroit–Warren–Dearborn, MILevel II $84,261 · Level III $101,358 · Level IV $118,477$67,142$84,261$101,358$118,477

Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $105,747 · Level III $126,422 · Level IV $147,098$85,072$105,747$126,422$147,098

Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro, OR–WALevel II $106,891 · Level III $127,046 · Level IV $147,222$86,715$106,891$127,046$147,222

Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler, AZLevel II $107,390 · Level III $124,779 · Level IV $142,168$90,002$107,390$124,779$142,168

San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CALevel II $110,843 · Level III $133,557 · Level IV $156,250$88,150$110,843$133,557$156,250

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT

Materials EngineeringCIP 14.18STEM OPT · up to 36 months938STEM OPT · up to 36 months

Materials SciencesCIP 40.10STEM OPT · up to 36 months248STEM OPT · up to 36 months

Metallurgical EngineeringCIP 14.20STEM OPT · up to 36 months11STEM OPT · up to 36 months

Ceramic Sciences and EngineeringCIP 14.06STEM OPT · up to 36 months10STEM OPT · up to 36 months

Polymer/Plastics EngineeringCIP 14.32STEM OPT · up to 36 months44STEM OPT · up to 36 months

See Materials Engineers in every metro area

All 88 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

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Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology