Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Salinas, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Materials Science & Engineering degree analysis for Salinas, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$57K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$123K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.4 yrs
in Salinas
Cost of Living
114
index (100 = avg)
Materials Science & Engineering in Salinas, CA Overview
Salinas, California (pop. 163,542) has 11 colleges offering Materials Science & Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 114 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,437/month. Materials Science & Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Metallurgy and Polymer Science. The adjusted starting salary in Salinas is approximately $57,000, growing to $123,120 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$7,143/yr
Private Tuition
$45,859/yr
Room & Board
$15,993/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,003/yr
Unemployment
4.3%
Graduation Rate
69%
Materials Science & Engineering Salary in Salinas (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Salinas's cost of living index of 114 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Materials Science & Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $108,000 mid-career, $135,000 senior level.Salinas adjustment factor: 1.14x based on the local cost of living index.
Materials Science & Engineering ROI Calculator for Salinas
Estimate your return on investment for a Materials Science & Engineering degree using local Salinas tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,143 | Private avg: $45,859
Salinas avg aid: $9,003/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$92,544
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$17,100
vs HS diploma in Salinas
ROI Payback Period
5.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Salinas
$933,456
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,026,000) minus total education cost ($92,544)
Student Loan Payoff for Materials Science & Engineering in Salinas
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Salinas for Materials Science & Engineering
California State University, Monterey Bay
public
$7,143/yr
$28,572 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Hartnell College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Materials Science & Engineering in Salinas
Salinas offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Materials Science & Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Salinas 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
Oakland, CA
$66K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Salinas
Petroleum Engineering
$57K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$57K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$93K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$57K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$91K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$91K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$89K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$57K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Salinas — 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 Salinas.