Kentucky · SOC 17-2131
Materials Engineer Salary in Kentucky
VerifiedPublished wages for materials engineers in Kentucky, straight from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024 release — the full percentile distribution, employment concentration, and metro detail.
Materials Engineers in Kentucky earn a median of $105,090 per year ($103,580 mean), per BLS OEWS May 2024. The middle 50% earn $86,320–$117,100; the top 10% earn $132,130. That is 3% below the national median of $108,310, ranking Kentucky #21 of 46 states that publish this occupation.
Median wage
Verified$105,090
-3% vs national
Top 10% earn
$132,130
90th percentile
Employed in state
340
Reliability Good (6.9% RSE)
Materials Engineer pay distribution — Kentucky vs national
Every figure below is a published BLS percentile. Bars share one scale, so the two distributions compare directly.
| Percentile | Annual wage | vs national |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentileentry / low | $80,330 | +18% |
| 25th percentile | $86,320 | +1% |
| Median50th percentile | $105,090 | -3% |
| 75th percentile | $117,100 | -15% |
| 90th percentiletop earners | $132,130 | -23% |
| Meanaverage | $103,580 | -11% |
Where materials engineers earn most in Kentucky
Metro areas in Kentucky where BLS publishes a wage for SOC 17-2131. Metros BLS withholds are not listed.
| Metro area | Median | Top 10% | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| CincinnatiCincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $102,530 | $162,510 | 300 |
| LouisvilleLouisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $97,170 | $122,970 | 60 |
Kentucky engineering labor market
Concentration and pay level across all engineering occupations BLS publishes for this state.
Location quotient
1.15
Jobs per 1,000
0.17
State rank (pay)
#21 of 46
All engineering roles
$100,716
A location quotient of 1.15 means Kentucky employs materials engineers at roughly the national rate.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a materials engineer make in Kentucky?
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Source details
Published wage from BLS OEWS May 2024 for SOC 17-2131 (Materials Engineers), Kentucky (state).
Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →