# SOC 17-2131: Materials Engineers

> Occupation profile: https://www.xh1b.org/soc/17-2131

Employers logged 19,471 certified H-1B applications for Materials Engineers (17-2131) roles, requesting 37,535 workers. The average offered wage is $99,031/yr, 12% below the BLS national median ($112,860/yr). (2025, SOC 17-2131) The largest filers are Intel Corporation, Lam Research Corporation and GlobalFoundries U.S., Inc.

| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total filings | 19,471 |
| Total workers | 37,535 |
| Average offered wage | $99K |
| Average prevailing wage | $91K |
| BLS median wage | $113K |
| Latest BLS year in scope | 2025 |
| Profile benchmark SOC | 17-2131 |
| BLS area | U.S. |

Filing wage badges use the latest national BLS median. Their detail shows the benchmark code and year. A mapped comparator can use a different occupation from the direct-code profile benchmark above. It is a screening comparison, not a claim that the occupations are identical.

| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Offered vs BLS benchmark | -12% |

## Top employers (of 3,261)

| Employer | Filings | Workers | Avg wage | BLS median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Intel Corporation](https://www.xh1b.org/org/intel-corporation-f9232ef48e) | 4,503 | 10,411 | $106K | $113K |
| [Lam Research Corporation](https://www.xh1b.org/org/lam-research-corporation-0f4cdf92a1) | 982 | 982 | $118K | $113K |
| [GlobalFoundries U.S., Inc.](https://www.xh1b.org/org/globalfoundries-us-inc-8917ecf7bd) | 755 | 755 | $81K | $113K |
| [Applied Materials, Inc.](https://www.xh1b.org/org/applied-materials-inc-876eed7a4f) | 665 | 5,476 | $118K | $113K |
| [Micron Technology, Inc.](https://www.xh1b.org/org/micron-technology-inc-db27b2578d) | 572 | 572 | $104K | $113K |
| [Apple Inc.](https://www.xh1b.org/org/apple-inc-4c462d6dd5) | 379 | 3,513 | $146K | $113K |
| [ASM America Inc.](https://www.xh1b.org/org/asm-america-inc-1aa0529799) | 252 | 270 | $107K | $113K |
| [The DOW Chemical Company](https://www.xh1b.org/org/the-dow-chemical-company-ab96da76a0) | 241 | 253 | $99K | $113K |
| [Western Digital Technologies, Inc.](https://www.xh1b.org/org/western-digital-technologies-inc-4095ecb896) | 179 | 2,616 | $133K | $113K |
| [Samsung Austin SEMICONDUCTOR, L.L.C.](https://www.xh1b.org/org/samsung-austin-semiconductor-llc-abc66f49e2) | 143 | 143 | $110K | $113K |

## Filing trend

| Year | Filings | Workers | Median offered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 | 1 | $61K |
| 2010 | 171 | 222 | $75K |
| 2011 | 852 | 880 | $79K |
| 2012 | 742 | 810 | $76K |
| 2013 | 914 | 1,233 | $80K |
| 2014 | 988 | 1,372 | $82K |
| 2015 | 1,085 | 2,341 | $83K |
| 2016 | 1,115 | 2,052 | $87K |
| 2017 | 1,139 | 3,786 | $90K |
| 2018 | 1,348 | 3,334 | $93K |
| 2019 | 1,187 | 3,365 | $92K |
| 2020 | 1,062 | 3,322 | $94K |
| 2021 | 1,632 | 2,198 | $97K |
| 2022 | 1,818 | 3,425 | $99K |
| 2023 | 1,461 | 2,106 | $111K |
| 2024 | 1,803 | 3,423 | $117K |
| 2025 | 1,877 | 2,860 | $115K |
| 2026 | 455 | 1,100 | $126K |

## State filing trends (2015 to 2026)

| State | Total filings | 2026 filings | 2026 filings per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Oregon](https://www.xh1b.org/state/or) | 3,675 | 189 | 4.4 |
| [California](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ca) | 3,659 | 87 | 0.2 |
| [Texas](https://www.xh1b.org/state/tx) | 1,213 | 15 | 0.0 |
| [Arizona](https://www.xh1b.org/state/az) | 1,137 | 45 | 0.6 |
| [New York](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ny) | 1,026 | 9 | 0.0 |
| [Michigan](https://www.xh1b.org/state/mi) | 556 | 4 | 0.0 |
| [Idaho](https://www.xh1b.org/state/id) | 549 | 13 | 0.6 |
| [Massachusetts](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ma) | 464 | 10 | 0.1 |
| [New Mexico](https://www.xh1b.org/state/nm) | 439 | 40 | 1.9 |
| [Ohio](https://www.xh1b.org/state/oh) | 369 | 5 | 0.0 |
| [Illinois](https://www.xh1b.org/state/il) | 306 | 6 | 0.0 |
| [Indiana](https://www.xh1b.org/state/in) | 301 | 6 | 0.1 |
| [Pennsylvania](https://www.xh1b.org/state/pa) | 281 | 3 | 0.0 |
| [Georgia](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ga) | 205 | 5 | 0.0 |
| [Minnesota](https://www.xh1b.org/state/mn) | 199 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Utah](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ut) | 199 | 1 | 0.0 |
| [North Carolina](https://www.xh1b.org/state/nc) | 197 | 1 | 0.0 |
| [Virginia](https://www.xh1b.org/state/va) | 175 | 4 | 0.0 |
| [New Jersey](https://www.xh1b.org/state/nj) | 172 | 3 | 0.0 |
| [Washington](https://www.xh1b.org/state/wa) | 137 | 2 | 0.0 |
| [South Carolina](https://www.xh1b.org/state/sc) | 132 | 1 | 0.0 |
| [Wisconsin](https://www.xh1b.org/state/wi) | 123 | 3 | 0.1 |
| [Tennessee](https://www.xh1b.org/state/tn) | 118 | 1 | 0.0 |
| [Connecticut](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ct) | 99 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Florida](https://www.xh1b.org/state/fl) | 96 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Colorado](https://www.xh1b.org/state/co) | 90 | 6 | 0.1 |
| [Alabama](https://www.xh1b.org/state/al) | 87 | 2 | 0.0 |
| [Kentucky](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ky) | 77 | 1 | 0.0 |
| [Arkansas](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ar) | 74 | 2 | 0.1 |
| [Nevada](https://www.xh1b.org/state/nv) | 56 | 1 | 0.0 |
| [Missouri](https://www.xh1b.org/state/mo) | 47 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Maryland](https://www.xh1b.org/state/md) | 45 | 1 | 0.0 |
| [New Hampshire](https://www.xh1b.org/state/nh) | 40 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Delaware](https://www.xh1b.org/state/de) | 39 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Kansas](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ks) | 34 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Mississippi](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ms) | 34 | 2 | 0.1 |
| [Oklahoma](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ok) | 32 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Iowa](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ia) | 31 | 1 | 0.0 |
| [Rhode Island](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ri) | 31 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Louisiana](https://www.xh1b.org/state/la) | 26 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [West Virginia](https://www.xh1b.org/state/wv) | 16 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Alaska](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ak) | 14 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Vermont](https://www.xh1b.org/state/vt) | 12 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Maine](https://www.xh1b.org/state/me) | 11 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Hawaii](https://www.xh1b.org/state/hi) | 10 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [North Dakota](https://www.xh1b.org/state/nd) | 10 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Nebraska](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ne) | 9 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [District of Columbia](https://www.xh1b.org/state/dc) | 6 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Montana](https://www.xh1b.org/state/mt) | 5 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [South Dakota](https://www.xh1b.org/state/sd) | 3 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Wyoming](https://www.xh1b.org/state/wy) | 2 | 0 | 0.0 |


Per 100k residents uses the U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimate for that state and year; years after the latest published estimate carry that estimate forward. The latest filing year may be a partial period.

## More

- Full page (charts, tables, interactive): https://www.xh1b.org/soc/17-2131
- JSON API: https://www.xh1b.org/api/soc-employers?code=17-2131
- JSON API: https://www.xh1b.org/api/soc-filings?code=17-2131


## References

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1. Dataset documentation · DOL OFLC. [LCA public disclosure record layout (FY2026 Q3)](https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ETA/oflc/pdfs/FY26Q3/LCA_Record_Layout_FY2026_Q3.pdf). Pages 1–4: application, DOL outcome and dates, requested positions, employer, representatives, worksites and pay units. This layout covers determinations issued October 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. It documents employer-provided application fields and DOL decisions, not USCIS decisions, payroll verification, legal bills or worker-linked moves. Older layouts can differ. Checked 2026-10-17.

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2. Dataset documentation · BLS. [OEWS technical notes (May 2025)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/2025/may/oes_tec.htm). Scope of the survey; occupational coding; concepts and estimation methodology. Documents occupation and geographic wage estimates, not an individual worker’s pay. Use the estimate year and geography stated by the site; older releases can differ. Checked 2026-10-17.

<a id="reference-data-lca-data-bls-data-soc-system-calculation-method-indicators-method-soc-system"></a>

3. Guidance · BLS. [Standard Occupational Classification](https://www.bls.gov/soc/finding_soc_code.htm). Classification Principles 1–2 and Coding Guideline 2; job duties, not job titles. Checked 2026-10-08.

<a id="reference-data-lca-data-bls-data-soc-system-calculation-method-indicators-method-calculation-method"></a>
<a id="reference-data-lca-data-bls-data-soc-system-calculation-method-indicators-method-indicators-method"></a>

4. XH1B method or registry · XH1B. [Calculation and Matching Methods; Reading Public Records and Derived Indicators](https://www.xh1b.org/data-sources). Filing units, annualization, weighting, wage comparisons, and inference limits; Reading records: units, source coverage, wage gaps, entity links, and inference limits. These are the site's review methods, not validated predictions of wrongdoing. Inspect underlying records and alternative explanations.