EngineeringUpdated Q1 2026No state income tax

Materials Engineer Salary
in Spokane, WA

Develop and test materials used in manufacturing β€” metals, ceramics, plastics, and composites. Median salary in Spokane: $90K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.

Median salary
$90K
per year
Take-home: $63K

Salary range in Spokane

Entry level (25th)$66,000
Median (50th)$90,000
Senior (75th)$118,000
Top earner (90th)$149,000
Data freshness

Figures represent annual base salary in Spokane, Washington. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial Β· How we calculate this β†’

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What the numbers say for Spokane

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

8% discount vs national median

Materials Engineers in Spokane earn approximately 8% lower than the US national median for this role β€” a $8,000 discount on annual base salary. Spokane's lower wage level partially reflects the area's cost-of-living index of 95 (US avg = 100).

Cost-of-living adjusted picture

Adjusted for Spokane's cost-of-living index (95), the median Materials Engineer salary buys the equivalent of $94,737 in a US-average-cost city. That's $3,263 less purchasing power than the national median β€” the higher nominal salary doesn't fully offset local costs.

No state income tax β€” $8K effective edge

Washington has no state income tax, which is worth roughly $8,370 per year at this salary level compared to a California Materials Engineer on the same gross pay. A Spokane Materials Engineer would need to earn $99,228 in California to net the same take-home.

Key facts for Spokane

Median salary
$90K
annual
Take-home pay
$63K
after fed/state tax
COL index
95
100 = US avg
State income tax
None
no-tax state
Avg 1BR rent
$1,150
per month
YoY growth
+3%
salary trend

Salary forecast: Spokane 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 $90K by 2030.

Salary trend & forecast β€” Spokane

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

HistoricalProjected
Materials Engineer salary trend 2019–2030PROJECTED β†’$75K$82K$89K$95K$102K201920212023202520272029
2026
$92K
projected
2027
$95K
projected
2028
$97K
projected
2029
$99K
projected
2030
$102K
projected

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

YearProjected median salaryvs today
2027 projected$90,000+$0
2028 projected$90,000+$0
2029 projected$90,000+$0
2030 projected$90,000+$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 Spokane, Washington: Complete Guide (2026)

The median Materials Engineer salary in Spokane, WA is $90,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Spokane–WA 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 Spokane

Entry-level Materials Engineers in Spokane with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $66,000 and $90,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $90,000 to $118,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $118,000 to $149,000 or more.

Cost of living in Spokane for Materials Engineers

Spokane has a cost of living index of 95 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 5% further in Spokane than the national average. Crucially, Washington has no state income tax β€” giving Spokane-based Materials Engineers an immediate 3–5% take-home pay advantage over workers in states like California (9.3%) or New York (6.85%).

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
Spokane (current)$90K95
Seattle$123K150
Tacoma$108K128
Vancouver$116K118
Bellevue$172K175
Kirkland$159K162