Salary distribution
Where South Carolina materials engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $88,700 and $130,760, with a median of $110,730.
Materials Engineers in South Carolina: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 11 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $90,000. 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 | $65,884 |
| Level II — qualified | 3 | $84,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 4 | $114,425 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Materials Engineers in South Carolina. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| ES Foundry Corp | Intermediate Process Engineer “ Materials | 2 | $87,000 |
| Hounen Solar America Inc. | Process Engineer | 1 | $90,000 |
| University of South Carolina | Postdoctoral Fellow/Department of Mechanical Engineering | 1 | $56,867 |
| Enviri Corporation (formerly Harsco Corporation) | Operations (Engineer) Manager | 1 | $108,675 |
| Munich Composites SC, Inc. | Composites Design Engineer | 1 | $69,763 |
| Silfab Solar Cells SC, Inc. | R&D Engineer “ CVD Diffusion | 1 | $100,000 |
| China Jushi USA Corporation | Materials Engineer | 1 | $62,005 |
| Zeus Company LLC | Research Engineer | 1 | $120,175 |
| Nucor Steel Berkeley, Nucor Corporation | Melt/Cast Metallurgical Supervisor | 1 | $165,000 |
| Open Avenues Foundation | Materials Engineering Fellow | 1 | $83,304 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Process Engineer at Hounen Solar America Inc.$90,000OrangeburgWage Level IDecided Sep 30, 2025I-200-25266-327528
- Postdoctoral Fellow/Department of Mechanical Engineering at University of South Carolina$56,867ColumbiaWage Level IDecided Sep 15, 2025I-200-25251-294178
- Operations (Engineer) Manager at Enviri Corporation (formerly Harsco Corporation)$108,675West ColumbiaWage Level IIIDecided Jul 30, 2025I-200-25204-195154
- Intermediate Process Engineer “ Materials at ES Foundry Corp$90,000GreenwoodWage Level IIDecided Jun 10, 2025I-200-25155-048978
- Research Engineer - Materials & Process at ES Foundry Corp$84,000GreenwoodWage Level IIDecided Jun 6, 2025I-200-25152-038697
- Composites Design Engineer at Munich Composites SC, Inc.$69,763LandrumWage Level IDecided May 23, 2025I-200-25136-986468
- R&D Engineer “ CVD Diffusion at Silfab Solar Cells SC, Inc.$100,000Fort MillWage Level IIIDecided Apr 29, 2025I-200-25112-890739
- Materials Engineer at China Jushi USA Corporation$62,005ColumbiaWage Level IDecided Apr 21, 2025I-200-25104-861349
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 South 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.
Materials Engineers in South Carolina, by industry
Median offered wage across 11 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $90,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | ES Foundry Corp | 8 | $90,000 |
| Education | University of South Carolina | 1 | $56,867 |
| Professional services | Enviri Corporation (formerly Harsco Corporation) | 1 | $108,675 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Open Avenues Foundation | 1 | $83,304 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in South Carolina 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 coursesCompare Materials Engineers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Materials Engineers in South Carolina?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Materials Engineers in South Carolina is $110,730.
- How does South Carolina compare to the national median for Materials Engineers?
- The South Carolina median is +0.7% versus the BLS national figure of $109,979.
- What is the salary range for Materials Engineers in South Carolina?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $76,850 and the 90th-percentile at $164,470, 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.