Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Oakland, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Materials Science & Engineering degree analysis for Oakland, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$66K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$143K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.8 yrs
in Oakland
Cost of Living
132
index (100 = avg)
Materials Science & Engineering in Oakland, CA Overview
Oakland, California (pop. 433,031) has 13 colleges offering Materials Science & Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 132 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,787/month. Materials Science & Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Metallurgy and Polymer Science. The adjusted starting salary in Oakland is approximately $66,000, growing to $142,560 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$11,404/yr
Private Tuition
$43,067/yr
Room & Board
$17,543/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,438/yr
Unemployment
6.9%
Graduation Rate
54%
Materials Science & Engineering Salary in Oakland (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Oakland's cost of living index of 132 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Materials Science & Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $108,000 mid-career, $135,000 senior level.Oakland adjustment factor: 1.32x based on the local cost of living index.
Materials Science & Engineering ROI Calculator for Oakland
Estimate your return on investment for a Materials Science & Engineering degree using local Oakland tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,404 | Private avg: $43,067
Oakland avg aid: $12,438/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$115,788
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,800
vs HS diploma in Oakland
ROI Payback Period
5.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Oakland
$1,072,212
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,188,000) minus total education cost ($115,788)
Student Loan Payoff for Materials Science & Engineering in Oakland
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Oakland for Materials Science & Engineering
Mills College at Northeastern University
private
$42,250/yr
$169,000 total
Holy Names University
private
$41,232/yr
$164,928 total
Samuel Merritt University
private
$45,720/yr
$182,880 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Merritt College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Materials Science & Engineering in Oakland
Oakland offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Materials Science & Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Oakland 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
Los Angeles, CA
$71K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
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
Bakersfield, CA
$67K starting · COL 134
18 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Oakland
Petroleum Engineering
$66K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$66K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$108K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$66K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$106K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$106K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$103K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$66K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Oakland — 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 Oakland.