Lucrative Careers In Plastic Engineering: Salary Expectations

Plastics engineers are involved in the manufacture, fabrication, and end use of existing materials, as well as the development of new materials, processes, and equipment. In 2014, the average plastics engineer earned $68,755 annually, but today, they earn $80,304 a year. This is a 10% change in pay over the last decade. In the United States, plastics engineers earned an average salary of $64,249 in November 2020, with salaries ranging from $54,000 to $98,000. In February 2025, the average salary was $66,741 per year, with the top earners (90th percentile) making $88,500 annually. The median annual salary for materials engineers (the category under which plastics engineers are classified) was $93,360 in May 2019.

Plastics Engineer salaries in the United States range from $36,500 to $108,500

The national average annual salary for a Plastics Engineer in the United States is $65,265. In 2014, the average plastics engineer earned $68,755 annually, but today, they earn $80,304 a year. This works out to a 10% change in pay for plastics engineers over the last decade. Virginia ranks number 31 out of 50 states nationwide for Plastics Engineer salaries, with the average salary being $66,741 per year.

The U.S. Department of Labor classifies plastics engineers under the category of materials engineers. The median annual salary for materials engineers was $93,360 in May 2019. The lowest 10% earned $57,340 or less, and the top 10% earned $148,960 or more. In November 2020, the average salary for plastics engineers was $64,249, with salaries ranging from $54,000 to $98,000.

The majority of Plastics Engineer salaries currently range between $48,500 (25th percentile) to $79,500 (75th percentile), with top earners (90th percentile) making $88,500 annually across the United States.

The average salary for a Plastics Engineer in the US is $66,741

The salary for a Plastics Engineer can depend on a variety of factors, including skill level, location, and years of experience. For example, Virginia ranks 31st out of 50 states nationwide for Plastics Engineer salaries. The average salary for a Plastics Engineer in 2014 was $68,755, which has increased to $80,304 in 2025, a 10% change in pay over the last decade.

The U.S. Department of Labor classifies plastics engineers under the category of materials engineers, which had a median annual salary of $93,360 in May 2019. The lowest 10% earned $57,340 or less, while the top 10% earned $148,960 or more. In November 2020, the average salary for a Plastics Engineer in the U.S. was $64,249, with salaries ranging from $54,000 to $98,000.

Plastics Engineers earned $68,755 annually in 2014, but now earn $80,304

The average salary for a plastics engineer has increased over the last decade. In 2014, plastics engineers earned $68,755 annually, but now, in 2025, they earn $80,304 per year. This represents a 10% change in pay.

The salary for a plastics engineer can vary depending on skill level, location and years of experience. In the United States, the average salary for a plastics engineer is $66,741 per year, with Virginia ranking 31st out of 50 states for plastics engineer salaries. The average pay range for a plastics engineer in the US is between $48,500 and $79,500, with top earners making up to $88,500 annually. However, some sources state that the median annual salary for materials engineers, the category under which plastics engineers fall, was $93,360 in May 2019. This figure is higher than the reported average salary for plastics engineers in 2025.

Plastics engineers are involved in the manufacture, fabrication, and end use of existing materials, as well as the development of new materials, processes, and equipment. The specific processes involved can vary, with plastics engineers working on everything from initial part design to the automation required to produce and finish production parts. The wide range of applications and manufacturing processes in plastics engineering may contribute to the variation in salaries for this profession.

The median annual salary for materials engineers (a category that includes plastics engineers) was $93,360 in 2019

Plastics engineers working in the U.S. in November 2020 earned an average salary of $64,249, with salaries ranging from $54,000 to $98,000. In 2014, the average plastics engineer earned $68,755 annually, and today, they earn $80,304 a year, representing a 10% change in pay over the last decade.

Plastics engineers working in the US in 2020 earned an average salary of $64,249

The salary of a plastics engineer can vary depending on skill level, location and years of experience. In 2025, the majority of plastics engineer salaries in the US ranged between $48,500 and $79,500, with top earners (90th percentile) making $88,500 annually. The average national salary for a plastics engineer in 2025 is $65,265, with Virginia ranking 31st out of 50 states nationwide for plastics engineer salaries.

The US Department of Labor classifies plastics engineers as materials engineers. The median annual salary for materials engineers was $93,360 in May 2019, with the lowest 10% earning $57,340 or less and the top 10% earning $148,960 or more.

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