SOC 17-2131 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Materials Engineers — Waterbury
Waterbury-Shelton, CT · 1 metro areas compared
In Waterbury, CT the median wage is $98,460.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Waterbury, CT the median wage is $98,460. That is 12.8% lower than the national median of $112,860. Pay ranges from under $78,060 at the tenth percentile to more than $157,190 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $88,860 to $112,920.
The area has 40 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.60 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Hartford records the highest median at $108,840. Of the 387 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 70th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $78,060 | −30.8% |
| 25th | $88,860 | −21.3% |
| Median (50th) | $98,460 | −12.8% |
| 75th | $112,920 | +0.1% |
| 90th | $157,190 | +39.3% |
| Mean | $107,480 | −4.8% |
Other metro areas in Connecticut
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hartford | $108,840 | 60 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Waterbury run 3.6% above the national average, so the median of $98,460 buys what $95,039 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 15.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$98,460as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$95,039US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $98,460 a year, 12.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $78,060 to $157,190 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 40 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Hartford, at $108,840.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Materials Engineers in Waterbury, CT?
The median annual wage is $98,460, or $47.34 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 Waterbury, CT is 12.8% 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 Waterbury, CT earns more than $157,190 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $78,060 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 Hartford, at $108,840 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 40 jobs in this occupation in Waterbury, CT. 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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