SOC 17-2131 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Materials Engineers — Rhode Island
Rhode Island · 1 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Rhode Island is $87,180 a year, trailing the national median of $112,860 by 22.8%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Rhode Island is $87,180 a year, trailing the national median of $112,860 by 22.8%. Half of workers earn between $80,660 and $113,060. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $78,270 and the ninetieth at $140,450.
The area has 50 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.66 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 45 states with published data for this occupation, Rhode Island ranks 42nd by median wage. Providence leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $101,670. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 158th of 545 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $78,270 | −30.6% |
| 25th | $80,660 | −28.5% |
| Median (50th) | $87,180 | −22.8% |
| 75th | $113,060 | +0.2% |
| 90th | $140,450 | +24.4% |
| Mean | $98,270 | −12.9% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Rhode Island
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence | $101,670 | 130 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Rhode Island run 2.3% above the national average, so the median of $87,180 buys what $85,220 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 24.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$87,180as reported by BLSLocal price level
102.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$85,220US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $87,180 a year, 22.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $78,270 to $140,450 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 50 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 42nd of 45 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Providence, at $101,670.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Materials Engineers in Rhode Island?
The median annual wage is $87,180, or $41.91 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 Rhode Island is 22.8% 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 Rhode Island earns more than $140,450 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $78,270 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 Providence, at $101,670 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 50 jobs in this occupation in Rhode Island. 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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