Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Los Angeles, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Materials Science & Engineering degree analysis for Los Angeles, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$71K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$152K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Los Angeles
Cost of Living
141
index (100 = avg)
Materials Science & Engineering in Los Angeles, CA Overview
Los Angeles is one of California's top college towns, with 69 institutions and a student population of 322,771. Public tuition averages $13,804/year here — near the national average for public universities. Materials Science & Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Metallurgy and Polymer Science. The adjusted starting salary in Los Angeles is approximately $70,500, growing to $152,280 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
69
Public Tuition
$13,804/yr
Private Tuition
$59,151/yr
Room & Board
$17,998/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,255/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
47%
Materials Science & Engineering Salary in Los Angeles (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Los Angeles's cost of living index of 141 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Materials Science & Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $108,000 mid-career, $135,000 senior level.Los Angeles adjustment factor: 1.41x based on the local cost of living index.
Materials Science & Engineering ROI Calculator for Los Angeles
Estimate your return on investment for a Materials Science & Engineering degree using local Los Angeles tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,804 | Private avg: $59,151
Los Angeles avg aid: $8,255/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$127,208
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$21,150
vs HS diploma in Los Angeles
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Los Angeles
$1,141,792
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,269,000) minus total education cost ($127,208)
Student Loan Payoff for Materials Science & Engineering in Los Angeles
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Los Angeles for Materials Science & Engineering
UCLA
public
$13,804/yr
$55,216 total
USC
private
$63,468/yr
$253,872 total
Loyola Marymount University
private
$54,834/yr
$219,336 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Los Angeles City College
$1,540/yr
Santa Monica College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Materials Science & Engineering in Los Angeles
Los Angeles offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Materials Science & Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Los Angeles Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Materials Science & Engineering Job Titles
Materials Science & Engineering in Nearby California Cities
San Diego, CA
$70K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$65K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$57K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$59K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$56K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$58K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$66K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Bakersfield, CA
$67K starting · COL 134
18 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Los Angeles
Petroleum Engineering
$71K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$71K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$116K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$71K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$113K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$113K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$110K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$71K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Los Angeles — 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 Los Angeles.