Materials Scientists Pay Range in Colorado
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$76,820
- 25th Percentile — Junior$91,030
- 50th Percentile — Median$117,290
- 75th Percentile — Senior$134,050
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$160,770
Half of Materials Scientists in Colorado earn more than $117,290. The top 10% make $160,770 or more, while entry-level workers start around $76,820.
Materials Scientists in Colorado: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Colorado ranks 16th of 30 states for Materials Scientists pay, at $118,330 per year (6.2% below the U.S. average of $126,180).
- 370 people work as Materials Scientists in Colorado — 4.4% of all U.S. Materials Scientists jobs.
- Location quotient 2.35: Materials Scientists jobs are more concentrated in Colorado than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $76,820; the top 10% earn over $160,770.
- Hourly equivalent: $56.89 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $189,460.
- Among science jobs in Colorado, Geoscientists pays the most ($132,120).
Materials Scientists Job Market in Colorado
Key factors affecting compensation
Colorado's key industries are Technology, Aerospace, Tourism, and its job market is rated very strong. Materials Scientists here earn $118,330 on average, placing the state 16th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.1 (U.S. = 1.00), a Colorado salary of $118,330 is roughly equivalent to $107,573 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, New Hampshire ($126,200), Minnesota ($125,000), Virginia ($124,880) are the closest alternatives for Materials Scientists weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Science Jobs in Colorado
Related career salary benchmarks
- Geoscientists $132,120/yr Colorado +11.7% vs this role
- Physicists $128,830/yr Colorado +8.9% vs this role
- Economists $127,020/yr Colorado +7.3% vs this role
- Hydrologists $122,740/yr Colorado +3.7% vs this role
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists $115,630/yr Colorado 2.3% vs this role
- Soil and Plant Scientists $107,330/yr Colorado 9.3% vs this role
- Chemists $106,480/yr Colorado 10.0% vs this role
- Food Scientists and Technologists $104,170/yr Colorado 12.0% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Materials Scientists salary in Colorado?
The average Materials Scientists salary in Colorado is $118,330 per year (median $117,290), which is 6.2% below the national average of $126,180.
How does Colorado rank for Materials Scientists pay?
Colorado ranks 16th out of 30 states. The highest-paying state is California ($189,460/yr).
How much do entry-level Materials Scientists make in Colorado?
The lowest-paid 10% of Materials Scientists in Colorado earn about $76,820 per year and the 25th percentile is $91,030.
How much do Materials Scientists make per hour in Colorado?
About $56.89 per hour, based on the $118,330 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Materials Scientists work in Colorado?
BLS counts 370 Materials Scientists jobs in Colorado (OEWS May 2025).
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