Materials Scientists Pay Range in Iowa
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$52,450
- 25th Percentile — Junior$67,590
- 50th Percentile — Median$88,320
- 75th Percentile — Senior$124,100
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$149,020
Half of Materials Scientists in Iowa earn more than $88,320. The top 10% make $149,020 or more, while entry-level workers start around $52,450.
Materials Scientists in Iowa: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Iowa ranks 26th of 30 states for Materials Scientists pay, at $99,050 per year (21.5% below the U.S. average of $126,180).
- 180 people work as Materials Scientists in Iowa — 2.1% of all U.S. Materials Scientists jobs.
- Location quotient 2.09: Materials Scientists jobs are more concentrated in Iowa than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $52,450; the top 10% earn over $149,020.
- Hourly equivalent: $47.62 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $189,460.
- Among science jobs in Iowa, Physicists pays the most ($176,230).
Materials Scientists Job Market in Iowa
Key factors affecting compensation
Iowa's key industries are Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance, and its job market is rated moderate. Materials Scientists here earn $99,050 on average, placing the state 26th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.86 (U.S. = 1.00), a Iowa salary of $99,050 is roughly equivalent to $115,174 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, New Jersey ($107,960), Pennsylvania ($107,370), South Carolina ($105,730) 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 Iowa
Related career salary benchmarks
- Physicists $176,230/yr Iowa +77.9% vs this role
- Soil and Plant Scientists $104,430/yr Iowa +5.4% vs this role
- Economists $102,020/yr Iowa +3.0% vs this role
- Animal Scientists $100,940/yr Iowa +1.9% vs this role
- Biochemists and Biophysicists $96,820/yr Iowa 2.3% vs this role
- Medical Scientists $96,170/yr Iowa 2.9% vs this role
- Chemists $94,080/yr Iowa 5.0% vs this role
- Microbiologists $91,170/yr Iowa 8.0% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Materials Scientists salary in Iowa?
The average Materials Scientists salary in Iowa is $99,050 per year (median $88,320), which is 21.5% below the national average of $126,180.
How does Iowa rank for Materials Scientists pay?
Iowa ranks 26th out of 30 states. The highest-paying state is California ($189,460/yr).
How much do entry-level Materials Scientists make in Iowa?
The lowest-paid 10% of Materials Scientists in Iowa earn about $52,450 per year and the 25th percentile is $67,590.
How much do Materials Scientists make per hour in Iowa?
About $47.62 per hour, based on the $99,050 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Materials Scientists work in Iowa?
BLS counts 180 Materials Scientists jobs in Iowa (OEWS May 2025).
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