Earnings
Plastics engineers working in the U.S. earned an average salary of $65,265 in 2025, according to ZipRecruiter.com. Salaries ranged from $36,500 or less to $108,500 or more.
The median annual salary for materials engineers (the category under which the U.S. Department of Labor classifies plastics engineers) was $104,100 in May 2023. The lowest 10 percent earned $63,340 or less and the top 10 percent earned $165,580 or more annually.
Benefits for plastics engineers usually include paid vacations and sick days, retirement plans, and medical insurance. Depending on the size of the company, engineers may be offered production bonuses, stock options, and paid continuing education.
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