Materials Engineers in Kentucky. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where Kentucky materials engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $96,300 and $119,280, with a median of $100,620.
Materials Engineers in Kentucky: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 12 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $99,837. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 3 | $91,520 |
| Level II — qualified | 4 | $97,337 |
| Level III — experienced | 3 | $105,394 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $275,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Materials Engineers in Kentucky. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mubea Inc. | Senior Materials Engineer | 2 | $95,000 |
| NORTH AMERICAN STAINLESS | CASTING SUPERVISOR | 2 | $108,535 |
| Nucor Corporation | Metallurgist | 2 | $2,641,350 |
| Celanese Corporation | ADVANCED ENGINEER, APPLICATION & CUSTOMER ENABLING SERVICES | 1 | $119,674 |
| Intel Corporation | Process Engineer | 1 | $105,394 |
| PRCO America, Inc. | Technical Manager “ Refractory Application Engineer | 1 | $100,000 |
| Ramaco Development, LLC | Senior Vice President of Critical Minerals Processing | 1 | $275,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY | Research Engineer Associate | 1 | $77,058 |
| University of Louisville - Louisville, KY | Research Scientist | 1 | $91,520 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Senior Vice President of Critical Minerals Processing at Ramaco Development, LLC$275,000LexingtonWage Level IVDecided Nov 21, 2025I-203-25318-407944
- QC Engineer-Digitalization at NORTH AMERICAN STAINLESS$92,144GhentWage Level IIDecided Sep 25, 2025I-200-25261-318565
- Research Scientist at University of Louisville - Louisville, KY$91,520GhentWage Level IDecided Sep 19, 2025I-200-25255-305119
- Process Metallurgist at Nucor Corporation$99,673BrandenburgWage Level IIDecided Jun 27, 2025I-200-25171-116770
- Technical Manager “ Refractory Application Engineer at PRCO America, Inc.$100,000HickoryWage Level IIIDecided Jun 26, 2025I-200-25169-108909
- ADVANCED ENGINEER, APPLICATION & CUSTOMER ENABLING SERVICES at Celanese Corporation$119,674FLORENCEDecided May 30, 2025I-200-25142-010085
- Senior Materials Engineer at Mubea Inc.$95,000FlorenceWage Level IIDecided May 23, 2025I-200-25136-985265
- Metallurgist at Nucor Corporation$5,183,027BrandenburgWage Level IIDecided May 13, 2025I-200-25126-945255
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Materials Engineers pay by experience level in Kentucky
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Materials Engineers in Kentucky, by industry
Median offered wage across 12 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $100,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Mubea Inc. | 9 | $100,000 |
| Education | UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY | 2 | $84,289 |
| Retail and wholesale | Ramaco Development, LLC | 1 | $275,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Kentucky over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.3 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Chemistry
Knowledge
- 4.2 / 5
Physics
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Production and Processing
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Science
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.
- 02
Design and direct the testing or control of processing procedures.
- 03
Monitor material performance, and evaluate its deterioration.
- 04
Conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.
- 05
Evaluate technical specifications and economic factors relating to process or product design objectives.
- 06
Modify properties of metal alloys, using thermal and mechanical treatments.
- 07
Guide technical staff in developing materials for specific uses in projected products or devices.
- 08
Determine appropriate methods for fabricating and joining materials.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+5.7%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in Kentucky
Metro-level salary data for materials engineers in major Kentucky metropolitan areas.
- Louisville$100,420
Compare Materials Engineers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Kentucky with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Materials Engineers in Kentucky?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Materials Engineers in Kentucky is $100,620.
- How does Kentucky compare to the national median for Materials Engineers?
- The Kentucky median is -12.2% versus the BLS national figure of $114,537.
- What is the salary range for Materials Engineers in Kentucky?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $84,610 and the 90th-percentile at $132,800, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Materials Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 5.7% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Materials Engineers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.