EngineeringUpdated Q1 2026

Materials Engineer Salary
in Fayetteville, NC

Develop and test materials used in manufacturing — metals, ceramics, plastics, and composites. Median salary in Fayetteville: $80K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.

Median salary
$80K
per year
Take-home: $52K

Salary range in Fayetteville

Entry level (25th)$59,000
Median (50th)$80,000
Senior (75th)$105,000
Top earner (90th)$133,000
Data freshness

Figures represent annual base salary in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →

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What the numbers say for Fayetteville

Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.

18% discount vs national median

Materials Engineers in Fayetteville earn approximately 18% lower than the US national median for this role — a $18,000 discount on annual base salary. Fayetteville's lower wage level partially reflects the area's cost-of-living index of 82 (US avg = 100).

Key facts for Fayetteville

Median salary
$80K
annual
Take-home pay
$52K
after fed/state tax
COL index
82
100 = US avg
State income tax
4.75%
effective rate
Avg 1BR rent
$1,050
per month
YoY growth
+3%
salary trend

Salary forecast: Fayetteville Materials Engineer to 2030

Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $80K by 2030.

Salary trend & forecast — Fayetteville

Historical (2019–2025) + projected to 2030 based on BLS growth rates

HistoricalProjected
Materials Engineer salary trend 2019–2030PROJECTED →$67K$73K$79K$85K$91K201920212023202520272029
2026
$82K
projected
2027
$84K
projected
2028
$86K
projected
2029
$88K
projected
2030
$91K
projected

Projections based on BLS Employment Projections 2022–2032 CAGR and WEF Jobs Report 2025. Not financial advice.

YearProjected median salaryvs today
2027 projected$80,000+$0
2028 projected$80,000+$0
2029 projected$80,000+$0
2030 projected$80,000+$0

Projections use compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from BLS occupational outlook data. Actual salaries may vary.

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Materials Engineer Salary in Fayetteville, North Carolina: Complete Guide (2026)

The median Materials Engineer salary in Fayetteville, NC is $80,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Fayetteville–NC metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.

Salary range for Materials Engineer in Fayetteville

Entry-level Materials Engineers in Fayetteville with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $59,000 and $80,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $80,000 to $105,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $105,000 to $133,000 or more.

Cost of living in Fayetteville for Materials Engineers

Fayetteville has a cost of living index of 82 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 18% further in Fayetteville than the national average. North Carolina has a 4.75% state income tax rate.

Education requirements for Materials Engineer

Bachelor's in Materials Science or Engineering. 22% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.

Materials Engineer salary in nearby cities

CityMedian salaryCOL index
Fayetteville (current)$80K82
Charlotte$98K100
Raleigh$103K102
Greensboro$86K88
Durham$103K100
Winston-Salem$83K85