Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$66,820
- 25th Percentile — Junior$89,990
- 50th Percentile — Median$117,790
- 75th Percentile — Senior$150,550
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$197,290
The top 10% of Materials Scientists earn $197,290 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $66,820, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii (est.) | $195,579 | +55.0% |
| California | $189,460 | +50.2% |
| Alaska (est.) | $166,558 | +32.0% |
| Oregon | $154,140 | +22.2% |
| Rhode Island (est.) | $145,107 | +15.0% |
| District of Columbia | $141,040 | +11.8% |
| Washington | $139,140 | +10.3% |
| New York | $138,200 | +9.5% |
| Vermont (est.) | $136,274 | +8.0% |
| Massachusetts | $133,360 | +5.7% |
| Delaware (est.) | $132,489 | +5.0% |
| Illinois | $129,980 | +3.0% |
| Maine (est.) | $128,704 | +2.0% |
| Connecticut | $128,460 | +1.8% |
| Wisconsin | $128,070 | +1.5% |
| Indiana | $127,210 | +0.8% |
| Utah | $126,590 | +0.3% |
| New Hampshire | $126,200 | +0.0% |
| Minnesota | $125,000 | -0.9% |
| Arizona (est.) | $124,918 | -1.0% |
| Virginia | $124,880 | -1.0% |
| Kansas | $118,360 | -6.2% |
| Colorado | $118,330 | -6.2% |
| Michigan | $117,800 | -6.6% |
| Idaho (est.) | $117,347 | -7.0% |
| Wyoming (est.) | $117,347 | -7.0% |
| North Dakota (est.) | $116,086 | -8.0% |
| Maryland | $113,450 | -10.1% |
| Louisiana (est.) | $111,038 | -12.0% |
| Nebraska (est.) | $111,038 | -12.0% |
| New Mexico (est.) | $111,038 | -12.0% |
| North Carolina | $110,700 | -12.3% |
| Ohio | $110,640 | -12.3% |
| Alabama (est.) | $109,777 | -13.0% |
| Missouri (est.) | $109,777 | -13.0% |
| South Dakota (est.) | $109,777 | -13.0% |
| Florida | $108,590 | -13.9% |
| New Jersey | $107,960 | -14.4% |
| Pennsylvania | $107,370 | -14.9% |
| Oklahoma (est.) | $105,991 | -16.0% |
| South Carolina | $105,730 | -16.2% |
| Arkansas (est.) | $104,729 | -17.0% |
| Kentucky (est.) | $104,729 | -17.0% |
| Mississippi (est.) | $100,944 | -20.0% |
| Georgia | $99,800 | -20.9% |
| Iowa | $99,050 | -21.5% |
| West Virginia (est.) | $98,420 | -22.0% |
| Nevada | $96,880 | -23.2% |
| Texas | $90,480 | -28.3% |
| Tennessee | $81,300 | -35.6% |
| Montana | $75,610 | -40.1% |
What Factors Affect Materials Scientists Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Materials Scientists is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: California pays an average of $189,460, while Montana pays $75,610 — a gap of $113,850 per year.
The middle half of Materials Scientists earn between $89,990 and $150,550 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $66,820, while the top 10% earn more than $197,290.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Compare with Similar Jobs
Related career salary benchmarks
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- Conservation Scientists $77,130/yr United States 38.9% vs this role
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Materials Scientists?
The average salary for Materials Scientists in the United States is $126,180 per year, with a median of $117,790.
What is the starting salary for Materials Scientists?
Entry-level Materials Scientists typically earn between $66,820 and $89,990 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Materials Scientists the most?
California pays Materials Scientists the most at $189,460 per year on average, followed by Oregon ($154,140) and District of Columbia ($141,040).
How much do Materials Scientists make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $126,180, Materials Scientists earn approximately $60.66 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Materials Scientists a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 8,470 Materials Scientists jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $126,180 and a median of $117,790 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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