Salary distribution
Where Pennsylvania materials engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $68,370 and $119,070, with a median of $89,160.
Materials Engineers in Pennsylvania: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 28 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $96,259. 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 | $70,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 2 | $83,747 |
| Level III — experienced | 9 | $96,637 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 4 | $115,871 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Materials Engineers in Pennsylvania. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| CertainTeed LLC | Senior Research Engineer | 3 | $118,379 |
| Arkema Inc. | Scientist - Polymer Characterization | 2 | $103,990 |
| TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | Research Associate | 2 | $73,420 |
| Leidos, Inc. | Research Scientist | 2 | $91,500 |
| Systems Protection Group US LLC | R&D Materials Engineer I | 1 | $87,067 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Special Faculty | 1 | $95,880 |
| Bridge Gap Engineering, LLC | Research and Development Manager | 1 | $105,000 |
| Modern Industries, Inc. | Metallurgical Engineer-Lab Operations MRDE | 1 | $81,000 |
| The Pennsylvania State University | Postdoctoral Scholar | 1 | $64,800 |
| EVONIK CORPORATION | Senior Application Development Engineer | 1 | $150,111 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- R&D Materials Engineer I at Systems Protection Group US LLC$87,067ExtonDecided Dec 22, 2025I-200-25349-483786
- Special Faculty at Carnegie Mellon University$95,880PittsburghDecided Dec 19, 2025I-200-25346-479669
- Research and Development Manager at Bridge Gap Engineering, LLC$105,000NorthamptonDecided Dec 19, 2025I-200-25346-478184
- Metallurgical Engineer-Lab Operations MRDE at Modern Industries, Inc.$81,000ErieDecided Dec 11, 2025I-200-25338-457889
- Postdoctoral Scholar at The Pennsylvania State University$64,800University ParkDecided Dec 4, 2025I-200-25330-440808
- Senior Application Development Engineer at EVONIK CORPORATION$150,111TrexlertownDecided Dec 3, 2025I-200-25329-437200
- Scientist - Polymer Characterization at Arkema Inc.$97,302King of PrussiaDecided Nov 25, 2025I-200-25322-416594
- Process Metallurgist at MM Metals USA, LLC$140,000Fairless HillsWage Level IIIDecided Sep 10, 2025I-203-25246-284800
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 Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania, by industry
Median offered wage across 28 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $106,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | CertainTeed LLC | 19 | $106,000 |
| Education | TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | 5 | $68,340 |
| Professional services | Leidos, Inc. | 4 | $91,500 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Pennsylvania 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.
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Explore coursesTop metros in Pennsylvania
Metro-level salary data for materials engineers in major Pennsylvania metropolitan areas.
- Philadelphia$112,290
- Pittsburgh$84,430
Compare Materials Engineers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Materials Engineers in Pennsylvania?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Materials Engineers in Pennsylvania is $89,160.
- How does Pennsylvania compare to the national median for Materials Engineers?
- The Pennsylvania median is -18.9% versus the BLS national figure of $109,979.
- What is the salary range for Materials Engineers in Pennsylvania?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $51,100 and the 90th-percentile at $149,710, 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.