Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Amarillo, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Materials Science & Engineering degree analysis for Amarillo, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$54K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$117K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.5 yrs
in Amarillo
Cost of Living
108
index (100 = avg)
Materials Science & Engineering in Amarillo, TX Overview
Amarillo, Texas (pop. 200,393) has 14 colleges offering Materials Science & Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 108 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,096/month. Materials Science & Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Metallurgy and Polymer Science. The adjusted starting salary in Amarillo is approximately $54,000, growing to $116,640 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$9,030/yr
Private Tuition
$43,100/yr
Room & Board
$9,166/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,360/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
66%
Materials Science & Engineering Salary in Amarillo (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Amarillo's cost of living index of 108 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Materials Science & Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $108,000 mid-career, $135,000 senior level.Amarillo adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
Materials Science & Engineering ROI Calculator for Amarillo
Estimate your return on investment for a Materials Science & Engineering degree using local Amarillo tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,030 | Private avg: $43,100
Amarillo avg aid: $15,360/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$72,784
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,200
vs HS diploma in Amarillo
ROI Payback Period
4.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Amarillo
$899,216
Lifetime earnings premium ($972,000) minus total education cost ($72,784)
Student Loan Payoff for Materials Science & Engineering in Amarillo
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Amarillo for Materials Science & Engineering
West Texas A&M University
public
$9,030/yr
$36,120 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Amarillo College
$2,604/yr
Top Employers for Materials Science & Engineering in Amarillo
Amarillo offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Materials Science & Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Amarillo Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Materials Science & Engineering Job Titles
Materials Science & Engineering in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$58K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$60K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$52K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$54K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$51K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$47K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Arlington, TX
$47K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$41K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Amarillo
Petroleum Engineering
$54K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$54K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$89K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$54K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$86K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$86K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$84K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$54K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Amarillo — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Materials Science & Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Amarillo.