STEEL MATERIAL FOR STEEL PISTON

A steel material for a steel piston that is suitable for use in a steel piston is provided. A steel material for a steel piston according to this embodiment has a chemical composition which consists of, in mass%, C: 0.15 to 0.30%, Si: 0.02 to 1.00%, Mn: 0.20 to 0.80%, P: 0.020% or less, S: 0.028% or less, Cr: 0.80 to 1.50%, Mo: 0.08 to 0.40%, V: 0.10 to 0.40%, Al: 0.005 to 0.060%, N: 0.0150% or less, O: 0.0030% or less, and the balance: Fe and impurities, and satisfies Formula (1) and Formula (2), in which, at a cross section parallel to the axial direction of the steel material for a steel piston, the number of Mn sulfides is 100.0 per mm2 or less, the number of coarse Mn sulfides having an equivalent circular diameter of 3.0 µm or more is in a range of 1.0 to 10.0 per mm2, and the number of oxides is 15.0 per mm2 or less. 0.42≤Mo+3V≤1.50V/Mo≥0.50