How much do materials engineers earn in the US?
According to EngineerSalary.com, the starting salary for a materials engineering with a bachelor’s degree in the US is $55,640. Those starting with a master’s can expect to start at $61,170 – depending on work experience prior to graduate study.
But, the median salary within the field according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (US BLS) is $92,390, with those in the 90th percentile earning a salary of $148,840.
The industries with the highest salaries employing materials are:
Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences: $107,840
Transportation equipment manufacturing: $100,030
Computer and electronic product manufacturing: $94,020
Engineering services: $90,630
Primary metal manufacturing: $81,170
Where do materials engineers work in the US?
In case you’re wondering as you browse the employers that recruit MS and ME materials engineers on university campuses, the states employing the highest numbers of materials engineers are:
- California
- Texas
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Michigan
You may want to consider pursuing your education in these or neighbouring states. But, remember that recruiters are looking for top talent across the country.
Top materials engineering masters programmes in the US
Ready to start looking at universities?
Considering where the highest numbers of materials engineers are employed, you may want to focus your programme search in the western and midwestern states. However, as you’ll see from recruiters, they’re happy to receive applications from Master of Science and Master of Engineering graduates from any of the top universities.
Why not start your employment search alongside your university search for the best shot at your future.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology - School of Engineering
Cambridge (Boston), Massachusetts | Northeast
USNWR engineering programme rank: 1
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $79,850
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering
Take a look at companies recruiting MIT engineering graduates.
Northwestern University - Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering
Evanston (Chicago), Illinois| Midwest
USNWR engineering programme rank: 20
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $83,098
Degrees available:
Master of Science (MS) in Materials Science and Engineering
Stanford University - Stanford School of Engineering
Stanford (San Francisco), California | West
USNWR engineering programme rank: 2
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $82,162
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering
Take a look at companies recruiting Stanford graduates.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - College of Engineering
Urbana, Illinois | Midwest
USNWR engineering programme rank: 10
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $50,134
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering (MSMatSE)
Occasionally offers spring admissions.
Take a look at companies recruiting Illinois graduates.
University of California Berkeley - School of Engineering
Berkeley (San Francisco), California | West
USNWR engineering programme rank: 3
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $69,304
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering
Master of Engineering in Materials Science and Engineering
Take a look at companies recruiting Berkeley graduates.
Georgia Institute of Technology - College of Engineering
Atlanta, Georgia | South
USNWR engineering programme rank: 7
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $48,362
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering
California Institute of Technology - School of Engineering and Applied Science
Pasadena (Los Angeles), California | West
USNWR engineering programme rank: 7
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $83,598
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Science
University of Michigan Ann Arbor - College of Engineering
Ann Arbor, Michigan | Midwest
USNWR engineering programme rank: 9
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $75,410
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering
Offers spring admissions.
Cornell University - College of Engineering
Ithaca, New York| Northeast
USNWR engineering programme rank: 13
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $83,296
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering (MSMSE)
Master of Engineering in Materials Science and Engineering (MEngMSE)
Offers spring admissions.
Pennsylvania State University University Park - College of Engineering
University Park, Pennsylvania | Northeast
USNWR engineering programme rank: 32
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $55,326
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering (MSMatSE)
Additive Manufacturing and Design (M.S. and M.Eng)
Offers spring admissions.
Carnegie Mellon University - College of Engineering
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Midwest
USNWR engineering programme rank: 4
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $80,972
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering
Master of Science in Materials Science
University of Pennsylvania - School of Engineering and Applied Science
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Northeast
USNWR engineering programme rank: 17
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $80,206
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Engineering Degree (M.S.M.S.E.)
Ohio State University - College of Engineering
Columbus, Ohio | Midwest
USNWR engineering programme rank: 30
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $55,152
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering
Master of Science in Welding Engineering
Offers spring admissions.
Purdue University - College of Engineering
West Lafayette, Indiana| Midwest
USNWR engineering programme rank: 4
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $46,144
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Engineering
Johns Hopkins University - Whiting School of Engineering
Baltimore, Maryland | Northeast
USNWR engineering programme rank: 16
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $113,043
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering
Offers spring admissions.
University of Florida - Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering
Gainesville, Florida | South
USNWR engineering programme rank: 41
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $32,350
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering
Master of Engineering in Materials Science and Engineering
University of Texas Austin - Cockrell School of Engineering
Austin, Texas| West
USNWR engineering programme rank: 6
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $39,912-$42,386
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Engineering in Materials Engineering
Occasionally offers spring admissions.
North Carolina State University - College of Engineering
Raleigh, North Carolina| South
USNWR engineering programme rank: 26
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $49,723
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering
Master of Materials Science and Engineering
Master of Nanoengineering
Offers spring admissions.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - School of Engineering
Troy, New York | Northeast
USNWR engineering programme rank: 43
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $80,243
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering
Master of Engineering in Materials Science and Engineering
Occasionally offers spring admissions.
Columbia University - The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science
New York, New York | Northeast
USNWR engineering programme rank: 13
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $96,392
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering
Take a look at companies recruiting Columbia graduates.
University of California Los Angeles - Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science
Los Angeles, California | West
USNWR engineering programme rank: 16
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $68,474
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Science & Engineering
Rice University - George R. Brown School of Engineering
Houston, Texas | West
USNWR engineering programme rank: 27
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $74,110
Degrees available:
Master of Materials Science and Nanoengineering (M.M.S.N.E.)
Offers spring admissions.
University of California Davis - College of Engineering
Davis (Sacramento), California | West
USNWR engineering programme rank: 35
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $55,411
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering
Master of Engineering in Materials Science and Engineering
Virginia Tech - College of Engineering
Blacksburg, Virginia | South
USNWR engineering programme rank: 30
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $52,106
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Science & Engineering
Occasionally offers spring admissions.
Take a look at companies recruiting Virginia Tech graduates.
University of California San Diego - Jacobs School of Engineering
San Diego, California | West
USNWR engineering programme rank: 10
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $53,862
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Science
Texas A&M University - Dwight Look College of Engineering
College Station, Texas | West
USNWR engineering programme rank: 10
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $39,868
Degrees available:
M.S. Civil Engineering: Materials Engineering Specialty
M.E. Civil Engineering: Materials Engineering Specialty
Offers spring admissions.
University of Maryland College Park - A. James Clark School of Engineering
College Park (Washington DC), Maryland | Northeast
USNWR engineering programme rank: 21
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $45,936
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering
Master of Engineering in Materials Science and Engineering
Offers spring admissions.
University of Washington - College of Engineering
Seattle, Washington | West
USNWR engineering programme rank: 24
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $55,443
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering
Take a look at companies recruiting U of Washington graduates.
University of Virginia - School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Charlottesville, Virginia | South
USNWR engineering programme rank: 37
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $83,856
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)
Master of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)
Case Western Reserve University - Case School of Engineering
Cleveland, Ohio | Midwest
USNWR engineering programme rank: 45
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $81,824
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering
Offers spring admissions.
Duke University - Pratt School of Engineering
Durham, North Carolina | South
USNWR engineering programme rank: 24
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $86,775
Degrees available:
M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering
Take a look at companies recruiting Duke graduates.
Iowa State University - College of Engineering
Ames, Iowa | Midwest
USNWR engineering programme rank: 48
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $43,922
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering
Master of Engineering in Materials Science and Engineering
Brown University - School of Engineering
Providence, Rhode Island| Northeast
USNWR engineering programme rank: 53
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $83,683
Degrees available:
Master of Science (Sc.M.) Materials Science and Engineering
University of California Irvine - Henry Samueli School of Engineering
Irvine (Los Angeles), California | West
USNWR engineering programme rank: 38
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $73,082
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering
Arizona State University - Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering
Tempe, Arizona | West
USNWR engineering programme rank: 40
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $51,252
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials science and engineering
Offers spring admissions.
University of Southern California - Viterbi School of Engineering
Los Angeles, California | West
USNWR engineering programme rank: 15
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $84,307
Degrees available:
Master of Science in Materials Science
Master of Science in Materials Engineering
Offers spring admissions.
Take a look at companies recruiting Viterbi graduates.
Northeastern University - College of Engineering
Boston, Massachusetts | Northeast
USNWR engineering programme rank: 33
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $57,592
Degrees available:
Mechanical Engineering with Concentration in Materials Science (MSME)
Offers spring admissions.
Take a look at companies recruiting Northeastern graduates.
University of Delaware - College of Engineering
Newark, Delaware| Northeast
USNWR engineering programme rank: 45
Estimated annual cost of attendance: $53,792
Degrees available:
Master of Materials Science and Engineering (MMSE)
Found the materials engineering programme you want to attend?
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