Highest-paying cities for materials scientists
San Jose, CA leads at $231,920 a year. Pay is not adjusted for local prices; see each page for the cost-of-living view.
| Place | Median | 25th–75th |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $231,920 | $165,930–$307,610 |
| San Francisco, CA | $231,710 | $166,060–$300,120 |
| Worcester, MA | $151,070 | $143,610–$165,770 |
| Portland, OR | $150,550 | $121,570–$175,340 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $149,980 | $119,510–$182,460 |
| Seattle, WA | $137,520 | $104,400–$177,030 |
| Chicago, IL | $133,340 | $104,350–$174,110 |
| Albany, NY | $132,650 | $107,260–$168,710 |
| Boston, MA | $132,600 | $103,890–$145,600 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $132,160 | $101,540–$137,320 |
| Riverside, CA | $129,050 | $92,460–$140,830 |
| Washington, DC | $127,490 | $100,930–$137,600 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $127,470 | $101,280–$165,660 |
| Boulder, CO | $126,880 | $85,480–$138,960 |
| Durham, NC | $123,070 | $72,050–$133,480 |
| New York, NY | $120,650 | $83,120–$137,210 |
| Trenton, NJ | $117,650 | $101,510–$128,490 |
| Cleveland, OH | $111,810 | $107,690–$128,500 |
| Akron, OH | $109,720 | $108,480–$138,120 |
| Detroit, MI | $107,650 | $79,440–$164,900 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $107,500 | $62,440–$141,920 |
| Denver, CO | $106,720 | $91,030–$134,050 |
| Greensboro, NC | $106,470 | $93,430–$117,790 |
| Columbus, OH | $104,430 | $81,320–$111,740 |
| Rochester, NY | $102,890 | $100,810–$122,330 |
| Charlotte, NC | $102,070 | $85,520–$126,850 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $101,120 | $90,850–$143,050 |
| Reno, NV | $97,750 | $90,250–$97,750 |
| San Diego, CA | $96,050 | $60,100–$138,600 |
| Atlanta, GA | $93,240 | $66,950–$107,780 |
| Baltimore, MD | $92,390 | $73,310–$138,000 |
| Dallas, TX | $82,080 | $72,700–$118,820 |
| Houston, TX | $75,360 | $67,820–$118,000 |
| College Station, TX | $63,390 | $50,970–$63,390 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY | $60,690 | $60,690–$74,950 |
Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025.