Materials Scientists Pay Range in Virginia
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$63,820
- 25th Percentile — Junior$100,930
- 50th Percentile — Median$124,150
- 75th Percentile — Senior$139,840
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$184,840
Half of Materials Scientists in Virginia earn more than $124,150. The top 10% make $184,840 or more, while entry-level workers start around $63,820.
Materials Scientists in Virginia: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Virginia ranks 14th of 30 states for Materials Scientists pay, at $124,880 per year (1.0% below the U.S. average of $126,180).
- 100 people work as Materials Scientists in Virginia — 1.2% of all U.S. Materials Scientists jobs.
- Location quotient 0.47: Materials Scientists jobs are less concentrated in Virginia than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $63,820; the top 10% earn over $184,840.
- Hourly equivalent: $60.04 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $189,460.
- Among science jobs in Virginia, Physicists pays the most ($159,320).
Materials Scientists Job Market in Virginia
Key factors affecting compensation
Virginia's key industries are Government, Technology, Defense, and its job market is rated very strong. Materials Scientists here earn $124,880 on average, placing the state 14th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.1 (U.S. = 1.00), a Virginia salary of $124,880 is roughly equivalent to $113,527 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Indiana ($127,210), Utah ($126,590), New Hampshire ($126,200) 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 Virginia
Related career salary benchmarks
- Physicists $159,320/yr Virginia +27.6% vs this role
- Economists $144,880/yr Virginia +16.0% vs this role
- Medical Scientists $127,300/yr Virginia +1.9% vs this role
- Biochemists and Biophysicists $126,950/yr Virginia +1.7% vs this role
- Hydrologists $119,240/yr Virginia 4.5% vs this role
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists $111,970/yr Virginia 10.3% vs this role
- Geoscientists $105,120/yr Virginia 15.8% vs this role
- Chemists $104,120/yr Virginia 16.6% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Materials Scientists salary in Virginia?
The average Materials Scientists salary in Virginia is $124,880 per year (median $124,150), which is 1.0% below the national average of $126,180.
How does Virginia rank for Materials Scientists pay?
Virginia ranks 14th out of 30 states. The highest-paying state is California ($189,460/yr).
How much do entry-level Materials Scientists make in Virginia?
The lowest-paid 10% of Materials Scientists in Virginia earn about $63,820 per year and the 25th percentile is $100,930.
How much do Materials Scientists make per hour in Virginia?
About $60.04 per hour, based on the $124,880 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Materials Scientists work in Virginia?
BLS counts 100 Materials Scientists jobs in Virginia (OEWS May 2025).
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