Materials Engineers pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $81,960 a year or less, while the top 10% make $160,700 or more. The middle half of materials engineers in Durham earn between $102,230 and $131,120.
- $82K10th
- $102K25th
- $117KMedian
- $131K75th
- $161K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $117,340 | $9,778 | $56.41 |
| Median | $117,000 | $9,750 | $56.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $102,230 | $8,519 | $49.15 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $131,120 | $10,927 | $63.04 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Materials Engineers pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Materials engineers in Durham earn 6% more than the North Carolina average ($110,700) and about the same as the U.S. average ($120,250). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $112,860.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $117,340 | $117,000 | $81,960 | $160,700 | 80 |
| North Carolina | $110,700 | $104,240 | $78,160 | $153,570 | 640 |
| United States | $120,250 | $112,860 | $72,300 | $175,720 | 22,770 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Materials Engineers salary after taxes in Durham
On the average salary of $117,340, a single filer in Durham takes home about $87,206 a year, or $7,267 a month and $3,354 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for materials engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $117,340 buys what about $120,260 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 3.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Materials Engineers salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 2nd of 4 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($118,400).
- Charlotte$118,400
- Durham$117,340
- Raleigh$109,980
- Greensboro$102,280
Highest-paying cities for materials engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($156,740).
- San Jose, CA$156,740
- Seattle, WA$153,780
- Washington, DC$145,070
- Boulder, CO$143,470
- Houston, TX$138,820
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Materials Engineers salary in Durham: questions
How much do materials engineers make an hour in Durham?
$56.41 an hour on average, and $56.25 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level materials engineers salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $81,960 a year and the 25th percentile is $102,230, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the materials engineers take-home pay in Durham?
About $87,206 a year ($7,267 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $117,340.
Do materials engineers earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($120,250).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2131; area Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.50, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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