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Average Materials Engineers Salary in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

Materials Engineers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan area earn an impressive average annual salary of $119,210. This figure notably surpasses the national average of $115,480, indicating a premium for specialized talent in this region. The higher compensation is likely driven by the area's robust industrial and research sectors, demanding advanced material science expertise.

Executive Summary

  • Average Salary: $119,210 per year.
  • Growth Trend: Salaries have shifted 0.0% over the last 5 years.
  • Top Earners: Senior professionals (90th percentile) earn up to $164,600.
  • Outlook: The job market for Materials Engineers in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH appears robust, with a total local workforce of 780 professionals. The Location Quotient of 1.95 signifies a concentration of these roles nearly double the national average, suggesting strong and consistent demand within the region's specialized industries.
2024 Market Data

Salary Overview

$119,210

The average Materials Engineers in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH earns+3.2%above the national average.

BreakdownBased on 40h/week
Hourly

$57.3

Weekly

$2,293

Monthly

$9,934

Materials Engineers Salary Distribution in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

Salary progression for Materials Engineers in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH typically scales significantly with experience. Entry-level positions may start closer to the lower percentiles, while senior engineers with specialized expertise and leadership responsibilities command salaries in the higher percentiles. These percentile gaps clearly delineate the career advancement and earning potential within the field.

Experience LevelMarket PercentileAnnual WageHourly Rate
Junior / AssociateEntry level. Focus on learning core skills & codebase.10% (Entry)$82,820$39.8
Engineer IProficient contributor. Handles tasks independently.25% (Junior)$89,408$43
Senior EngineerSystem design, complex problem solving, mentoring.50% (Median)$108,310$52.1
Lead / StaffTechnical strategy, architecture, cross-team impact.75% (Senior)$149,013$71.6
Principal / ArchitectIndustry expert. Driving technical vision & innovation.90% (Expert)$164,600$79.1

Detailed Materials Engineers Market Analysis

Relocation Context

Nominal Salary

$119,210

Gross Pay

Real Wage (Purchasing Power)

$119,210

Adjusted for COL (100)

The average annual salary of $119,210 in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH aligns perfectly with the national average Cost of Living Index of 100. This means that while the nominal salary is higher than the national average, the purchasing power of that salary is equivalent to the national average, offering no significant advantage or disadvantage in terms of cost of living.

Job Market Context

780

Total Jobs

0.288

Per 1K Jobs

1.95

Location Quotient

Major Hub

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH has 1.9x the national concentration of Materials Engineers jobs — a major employment hub for this role. Job seekers will find significantly more opportunities here than in most other areas.

With a Location Quotient of 1.95, the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH area exhibits a significantly higher concentration of Materials Engineers compared to the national average. This suggests a competitive yet abundant job market, where companies actively seek out this specialized talent, and professionals have ample opportunities within a thriving ecosystem of related industries.

Nearby Job Markets

Nearby Cities for Materials Engineers

Comparing salaries near Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

Hiring Materials Engineerss?

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Materials Engineers make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?

The median annual salary for a Materials Engineers in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is $119,210. This typically ranges from $82,820 for entry-level positions to $164,600 for top-level roles.

How does the salary compare to the national average?

The average salary for this role in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is 3.2% higher than the national median of $115,480.

Is Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH a lucrative place for Materials Engineers?

Yes, it is a lucrative place for Materials Engineers.Materials Engineers in this area earn above the national average salary, and the cost of living is on par with the national average, offering strong purchasing power.

Is Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH a good place to live for Materials Engineers?

The Cost of Living Index in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is 100. While higher than average, this often correlates with higher wages.

Where are the highest paying cities near Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?

Some top paying nearby cities include Worcester, MA ($115,570) and Providence-Warwick, RI-MA.

How does the Boston-Cambridge-Newton salary compare to the national average?

Materials Engineers in Boston-Cambridge-Newton earn an average of $119,210 annually, which is $3,730 more than the national average of $115,480.

What is the significance of the Location Quotient (LQ) in Boston?

An LQ of 1.95 indicates that Materials Engineers are nearly twice as concentrated in Boston-Cambridge-Newton compared to the national average, signifying high demand and a specialized job market.

Does the cost of living affect the Materials Engineer salary in Boston?

The cost of living in Boston-Cambridge-Newton is exactly at the national average (100). Therefore, the higher nominal salary of $119,210 translates directly to national average purchasing power.

What is the total number of Materials Engineers in the Boston area?

There are approximately 780 Materials Engineers working within the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan area.

Methodology: Salary data is derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS 2024 release. Figures represent gross pay before taxes. Analysis includes 780 employees in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH area with a job density of 0.288 per 1,000 jobs. Cost of Living data is estimated based on state and metro averages.