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DATA PROFILE · 2024

Materials Engineers salary in North Carolina

Median, range, employment, and 10-year outlook from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, with skills and task data from O*NET. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities.

Adrian Serafin, founder and editor of RateOrchardBy Adrian SerafinFounderUpdated April 27, 2026
Median annual$95,640
Mean annual$101,650
Range (10th to 90th)$75,310 to $138,330
North Carolina employment770
State vs national-13.0% vs national

Salary distribution

Where North Carolina materials engineers fall on the wage curve.

Annual wage distribution

Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)

10TH$75,31025TH$81,010MEDIAN$95,64075TH$117,19090TH$138,330

The middle 50% of workers earn between $81,010 and $117,190, with a median of $95,640.

Real disclosed salaries

Materials Engineers in North Carolina: actual employer-disclosed pay

Public records from 15 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $108,885. 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.

LevelFilingsMedian offer
Level I — entry1$108,605
Level II — qualified6$90,750
Level IV — fully competent6$122,435

Top employers filing for this role

Companies with the most certified filings for Materials Engineers in North Carolina. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.

EmployerMost-filed titleFilingsMedian
Qorvo US, INC.Staff Product Quality Engineer2$117,630
Albemarle CorporationR&T Engineer III2$111,521
LTS Research Laboratories Inc.Materials Engineer1$95,368
ARIS INCMATERIALS ENGINEER II1$91,499
Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.Technical Leader III1$112,350
TE Connectivity CorporationStaff Manufacturing & Process Development Engineer1$125,000
Ozinga Bros., Inc.Vice President of Engineering1$283,500
LInamar Light Metals - MRMetallurgist1$105,060
Intel CorporationProcess Engineer1$88,490
GlobalFoundries U.S., Inc.SMTS Process Engineering1$119,870

Recent sample filings

A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.

  • Staff Product Quality Engineer at Qorvo US, INC.
    $126,655
    GreensboroDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25357-504446
  • Materials Engineer at LTS Research Laboratories Inc.
    $95,368
    BelmontDecided Dec 1, 2025I-200-25326-430864
  • MATERIALS ENGINEER II at ARIS INC
    $91,499
    GREENSBOROWage Level IIDecided May 22, 2025I-200-25135-979658
  • Technical Leader III at Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    $112,350
    CharlotteWage Level IVDecided May 12, 2025I-200-25125-939244
  • Staff Manufacturing & Process Development Engineer at TE Connectivity Corporation
    $125,000
    Winston-SalemWage Level IVDecided Apr 29, 2025I-200-25113-893085
  • Vice President of Engineering at Ozinga Bros., Inc.
    $283,500
    PinevilleWage Level IVDecided Apr 28, 2025I-200-25111-884241
  • R&T Engineer III at Albemarle Corporation
    $108,885
    Kings MountainWage Level IIDecided Apr 22, 2025I-200-25105-865892
  • Position Restrictions Project Metallurgist at Albemarle Corporation
    $114,156
    Kings MountainWage Level IIDecided Apr 18, 2025I-200-25101-857767

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.

By seniority

Materials Engineers pay by experience level in North Carolina

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.

Pay by industry

Materials Engineers in North Carolina, by industry

Median offered wage across 15 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $114,156.

IndustryLargest employerFilingsMedian offer
ManufacturingQorvo US, INC.11$114,156
Professional servicesLTS Research Laboratories Inc.2$93,434
Energy and utilitiesElectric Power Research Institute, Inc.1$112,350
EducationNorth Carolina State University1$70,000

Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.

Wage trend

Median annual wage in North Carolina over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.

Median annual wage, North Carolina2023 to 2024
$92,5702023$95,6402024

Typical entry

  • Education

    Bachelor's degree

  • Experience

    None

  • On-the-job training

    None

Top skills (O*NET)

  • Engineering and Technology

    Knowledge

    4.3 / 5
  • Chemistry

    Knowledge

    4.3 / 5
  • Physics

    Knowledge

    4.2 / 5
  • Production and Processing

    Knowledge

    4.1 / 5
  • Mathematics

    Knowledge

    4.1 / 5
  • Active Listening

    Basic skill

    4.0 / 5
  • Reading Comprehension

    Basic skill

    4.0 / 5
  • Science

    Basic skill

    4.0 / 5

Common tasks (O*NET)

  1. 01

    Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.

  2. 02

    Design and direct the testing or control of processing procedures.

  3. 03

    Monitor material performance, and evaluate its deterioration.

  4. 04

    Conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.

  5. 05

    Evaluate technical specifications and economic factors relating to process or product design objectives.

  6. 06

    Modify properties of metal alloys, using thermal and mechanical treatments.

  7. 07

    Guide technical staff in developing materials for specific uses in projected products or devices.

  8. 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, 20242034 cycle.

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Top metros in North Carolina

Metro-level salary data for materials engineers in major North Carolina metropolitan areas.

Compare Materials Engineers pay across nearby states

Frequently asked questions

What is the median salary for Materials Engineers in North Carolina?
According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Materials Engineers in North Carolina is $95,640.
How does North Carolina compare to the national median for Materials Engineers?
The North Carolina median is -13.0% versus the BLS national figure of $109,979.
What is the salary range for Materials Engineers in North Carolina?
BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $75,310 and the 90th-percentile at $138,330, 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.
Disclaimer

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.