SOC 17-2131 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Materials Engineers — Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania · 6 metro areas compared
The median wage for Materials Engineers in Pennsylvania is $98,030 per year, 13.1% below the national median of $112,860.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Materials Engineers in Pennsylvania is $98,030 per year, 13.1% below the national median of $112,860. Pay ranges from under $62,790 at the tenth percentile to more than $173,530 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $76,760 to $128,360.
Employment stands at 720, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 45 states with published data for this occupation, Pennsylvania ranks 36th by median wage. Philadelphia leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $125,190. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 116th of 778 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $62,790 | −44.4% |
| 25th | $76,760 | −32.0% |
| Median (50th) | $98,030 | −13.1% |
| 75th | $128,360 | +13.7% |
| 90th | $173,530 | +53.8% |
| Mean | $106,560 | −5.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Pennsylvania
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $125,190 | 320 | |
| 2 | Allentown | $116,510 | 30 | |
| 3 | Reading | $99,040 | 50 | |
| 4 | Harrisburg | $98,440 | 40 | |
| 5 | Pittsburgh | $92,740 | 120 | |
| 6 | Lancaster | $79,270 | 30 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Pennsylvania run 2.4% below the national average, so the median of $98,030 goes as far as $100,441 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 11.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$98,030as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$100,441US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $98,030 a year, 13.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $62,790 to $173,530 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 720 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 36th of 45 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Philadelphia, at $125,190.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Materials Engineers in Pennsylvania?
The median annual wage is $98,030, or $47.13 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $112,860, so pay in Pennsylvania is 13.1% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Pennsylvania earns more than $173,530 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $62,790 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Philadelphia, at $125,190 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 720 jobs in this occupation in Pennsylvania. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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