SOC 17-2131 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Materials Engineers — San Jose
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA · 7 metro areas compared
At $156,730 a year, the median wage for Materials Engineers in San Jose, CA sits 38.9% above the national figure of $112,860.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $156,730 a year, the median wage for Materials Engineers in San Jose, CA sits 38.9% above the national figure of $112,860. Half of workers earn between $130,770 and $180,130. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $101,450 and the ninetieth at $218,760.
The area has 550 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 3.32 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Bakersfield leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $130,440. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 79th of 574 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $101,450 | −10.1% |
| 25th | $130,770 | +15.9% |
| Median (50th) | $156,730 | +38.9% |
| 75th | $180,130 | +59.6% |
| 90th | $218,760 | +93.8% |
| Mean | $156,740 | +38.9% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bakersfield | $130,440 | 50 | |
| 2 | Sacramento | $130,040 | 100 | |
| 3 | San Francisco | $129,480 | 340 | |
| 4 | Los Angeles | $125,200 | 1,250 | |
| 5 | San Diego | $124,180 | 260 | |
| 6 | Oxnard | $122,450 | 60 | |
| 7 | Riverside | $109,100 | 90 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Jose run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $156,730 buys what $141,581 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 25.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$156,730as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$141,581US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $156,730 a year, 38.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $101,450 to $218,760 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 550 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Bakersfield, at $130,440.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Materials Engineers in San Jose, CA?
The median annual wage is $156,730, or $75.35 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 San Jose, CA is 38.9% higher. 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 San Jose, CA earns more than $218,760 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $101,450 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 Bakersfield, at $130,440 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 550 jobs in this occupation in San Jose, CA. 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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