Paycheck Atlas

Materials Scientists salary in San Francisco, CA

The median materials scientists in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA earns $231,710 a year, 97% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $12,913 a month.

10th percentile
$134,780
25th percentile
$166,060
Median percentile
$231,710
75th percentile
$300,120
90th percentile
$300,330

Based on 380 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.

What you keep

$154,955 take-home a year
Gross pay$231,710
Federal income tax−$45,451
Social Security + Medicare−$15,084
California income tax (approx.)−$16,220
Monthly take-home$12,913
Every two weeks$5,960

Does it go far here?

$200,419Median pay in San Francisco, CA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 115.6 vs 100).
19%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($2,474 a month, Census ACS).

Top-paying jobs in San Francisco, CA

JobMedian pay
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$374,680
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$357,220
Family Medicine Physicians$304,560
Physicians, All Other$294,360
Chief Executives$288,690
Computer and Information Systems Managers$232,890
Natural Sciences Managers$225,230
Architectural and Engineering Managers$221,580

All materials scientists salaries · Take-home pay in California