Materials Scientist Salary
Materials Scientists earn a median $117,790 a year nationally. Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
U.S. median
$117,790
$56.63 per hour
Range
$66,820 – $197,290
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
8,470
across the U.S.
Materials Scientist take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$91,695
per year · effective tax rate 22.2%
$7,641Monthly
$3,821Twice a month
$3,527Every 2 weeks
$44.08Hourly
- Federal income tax$17,084
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,303
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,708
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$91,695
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,820 | $32.13 | $55,838 |
| 25th percentile | $89,990 | $43.26 | $72,138 |
| Median (50th) | $117,790 | $56.63 | $91,695 |
| 75th percentile | $150,550 | $72.38 | $114,167 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $197,290 | $94.85 | $146,907 |
Best cities for materials scientists (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $133,340 | $95,948 | $92,619 | 460 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $132,600 | $95,488 | $88,198 | 700 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $120,650 | $87,629 | $77,849 | 560 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Chicago, IL — $133,340
- Boston, MA — $132,600
- New York, NY — $120,650
Materials Scientist salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $177,030 | $117,730 | $96,050 – $239,200+ | 1,030 |
| Oregon | $150,550 | $101,563 | $105,030 – $199,000 | 100 |
| Wisconsin | $137,700 | $99,466 | $73,650 – $160,640 | 70 |
| District of Columbia | $137,600 | $96,588 | $132,790 – $161,700 | — |
| Massachusetts | $132,600 | $95,488 | $96,310 – $168,390 | 890 |
| Minnesota | $132,160 | $94,056 | $83,500 – $172,500 | 290 |
| New York | $131,740 | $94,578 | $87,880 – $204,830 | 530 |
| Indiana | $130,540 | $96,669 | $53,660 – $197,910 | 320 |
| Connecticut | $130,320 | $94,671 | $72,440 – $201,790 | 50 |
| Washington | $127,250 | $98,241 | $76,390 – $209,800 | 290 |
| Utah | $126,840 | $93,219 | $67,360 – $175,440 | 110 |
| Illinois | $125,850 | $91,200 | $84,070 – $184,130 | 380 |
| Virginia | $124,150 | $89,798 | $63,820 – $184,840 | 100 |
| New Hampshire | $119,990 | $93,243 | $65,200 – $173,640 | 80 |
| Colorado | $117,290 | $86,891 | $76,820 – $160,770 | 370 |
| Kansas | $115,490 | $84,433 | $86,800 – $182,780 | 40 |
| Maryland | $112,400 | $82,913 | $69,990 – $165,670 | 270 |
| Ohio | $108,830 | $83,181 | $54,620 – $159,130 | 450 |
| Michigan | $107,410 | $80,079 | $54,240 – $167,940 | 230 |
| Pennsylvania | $106,920 | $80,766 | $68,850 – $159,170 | 100 |
| North Carolina | $106,470 | $79,992 | $65,720 – $161,870 | 490 |
| New Jersey | $103,150 | $77,015 | $79,450 – $139,550 | 440 |
| Florida | $102,340 | $80,826 | $77,270 – $155,070 | 200 |
| South Carolina | $101,930 | $75,579 | $70,060 – $137,490 | 80 |
| Nevada | $97,490 | $77,414 | $78,350 – $121,610 | 100 |
| Georgia | $91,970 | $69,380 | $63,820 – $154,600 | 350 |
| Iowa | $88,320 | $68,259 | $52,450 – $149,020 | 180 |
| Texas | $72,700 | $59,974 | $50,970 – $151,050 | 300 |
| Montana | $71,810 | $56,652 | $55,030 – $129,960 | 50 |
| Tennessee | $69,010 | $57,379 | $57,800 – $150,590 | 60 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a materials scientist make?
The national median salary for materials scientists is $117,790 a year ($56.63 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $66,820 and the top 10% earn over $197,290. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays materials scientists the most?
California has the highest median pay at $177,030. After taxes and local prices, Chicago, IL offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many materials scientists are there in the U.S.?
About 8,470 people work as materials scientists nationwide.