Salary distribution
Where Michigan materials engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $73,390 and $119,860, with a median of $96,660.
Materials Engineers in Michigan: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 43 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $110,000. 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 | 4 | $72,800 |
| Level II — qualified | 10 | $93,171 |
| Level III — experienced | 12 | $110,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 11 | $130,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Materials Engineers in Michigan. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| A123 Systems LLC | Battery Simulation Engineer [00084961] | 5 | $110,000 |
| University of Michigan | Postdoctoral Research Fellow | 4 | $62,232 |
| General Motors | Researcher | 3 | $121,048 |
| Eaton Corporation | Lead Materials Engineer “ Power Conversion | 3 | $135,000 |
| Michigan Technological University | Materials Engineer | 1 | $91,625 |
| LEAR CORPORATION | PD Lamination Engineer | 1 | $117,835 |
| FORD MOTOR COMPANY | Seat Complete Engineer | 1 | $93,642 |
| Freudenberg Performance Materials, LP | Product Development R&D Engineer | 1 | $110,000 |
| Enviri Corporation (formerly Harsco Corporation) | Operations (Engineer) Manager | 1 | $108,675 |
| Kotobukiya Treves North America Inc. d/b/a KTNA | Advanced Engineering Manager | 1 | $130,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Materials Engineer at Michigan Technological University$91,625HoughtonDecided Nov 25, 2025I-200-25322-416411
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow at University of Michigan$62,232Ann ArborDecided Nov 24, 2025I-200-25321-413815
- PD Lamination Engineer at LEAR CORPORATION$117,835Rochester HillsDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-363234
- Researcher at General Motors$113,850WarrenDecided Nov 7, 2025I-200-25274-351123
- Seat Complete Engineer at FORD MOTOR COMPANY$93,642DearbornWage Level IIDecided Sep 19, 2025I-200-25255-307159
- Product Development R&D Engineer at Freudenberg Performance Materials, LP$110,000PlymouthWage Level IIIDecided Aug 5, 2025I-200-25210-206534
- Operations (Engineer) Manager at Enviri Corporation (formerly Harsco Corporation)$108,675LudingtonWage Level IIIDecided Jul 30, 2025I-200-25204-195127
- Advanced Engineering Manager at Kotobukiya Treves North America Inc. d/b/a KTNA$130,000NoviWage Level IVDecided Jul 8, 2025I-200-25181-143285
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.
Materials Engineers pay by experience level in Michigan
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 specialties in Michigan
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 10 certified offers. The most common variant is Battery Simulation Engineer [00084961] at a median of $107,500.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Simulation Engineer [00084961] | A123 Systems LLC | 4 | $107,500 |
| Materials Engineer | Michigan Technological University | 3 | $90,860 |
| Postdoctoral Research Fellow | University of Michigan | 3 | $62,232 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Materials Engineers in Michigan, by industry
Median offered wage across 43 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $115,502.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | A123 Systems LLC | 31 | $115,502 |
| Professional services | Enviri Corporation (formerly Harsco Corporation) | 6 | $92,810 |
| Education | University of Michigan | 5 | $62,232 |
| Retail and wholesale | Kotobukiya Treves North America Inc. d/b/a KTNA | 1 | $130,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Michigan over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 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.
Sponsored
Build the skills employers list for Materials Engineers
Online courses from licensed providers. We may earn a commission when you enroll. The commission does not influence our rankings or wage data.
Explore coursesTop metros in Michigan
Metro-level salary data for materials engineers in major Michigan metropolitan areas.
- Detroit$99,270
Compare Materials Engineers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Materials Engineers in Michigan?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Materials Engineers in Michigan is $96,660.
- How does Michigan compare to the national median for Materials Engineers?
- The Michigan median is -12.1% versus the BLS national figure of $109,979.
- What is the salary range for Materials Engineers in Michigan?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $58,680 and the 90th-percentile at $141,260, 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.