Materials Scientists salary

The median pay for materials scientists in the United States is $117,790 a year. About 8,470 people hold this job.

Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience. BLS does not report experience, so reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only a rough guide. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025.

How to become: education, skills and job outlook

Highest-paying states · Highest-paying cities

By state

• California $177,030
• Oregon $150,550
• Wisconsin $137,700
• Massachusetts $132,600
• Minnesota $132,160
• New York $131,740
• Indiana $130,540
• Connecticut $130,320
• Washington $127,250
• Utah $126,840
• Illinois $125,850
• Virginia $124,150
• New Hampshire $119,990
• Colorado $117,290
• Kansas $115,490
• Maryland $112,400
• Ohio $108,830
• Michigan $107,410
• Pennsylvania $106,920
• North Carolina $106,470
• New Jersey $103,150
• Florida $102,340
• South Carolina $101,930
• Nevada $97,490
• Georgia $91,970
• Iowa $88,320
• Texas $72,700
• Montana $71,810
• Tennessee $69,010

By metro area

• San Jose, CA $231,920
• San Francisco, CA $231,710
• Worcester, MA $151,070
• Portland, OR $150,550
• Los Angeles, CA $149,980
• Seattle, WA $137,520
• Chicago, IL $133,340
• Albany, NY $132,650
• Boston, MA $132,600
• Minneapolis, MN $132,160
• Riverside, CA $129,050
• Washington, DC $127,490
• Philadelphia, PA $127,470
• Boulder, CO $126,880
• Durham, NC $123,070
• New York, NY $120,650
• Trenton, NJ $117,650
• Cleveland, OH $111,810
• Akron, OH $109,720
• Detroit, MI $107,650
• Cincinnati, OH $107,500
• Denver, CO $106,720
• Greensboro, NC $106,470
• Columbus, OH $104,430
• Rochester, NY $102,890
• Charlotte, NC $102,070
• Salt Lake City, UT $101,120
• Reno, NV $97,750
• San Diego, CA $96,050
• Atlanta, GA $93,240
• Baltimore, MD $92,390
• Dallas, TX $82,080
• Houston, TX $75,360
• College Station, TX $63,390
• Louisville/Jefferson County, KY $60,690