Materials Scientist Salary in Boston, MA
Materials Scientists in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $132,600 a year — 13% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $95,488 take-home, or $7,957 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median materials scientist salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,558
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,221
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,923
- Massachusetts income tax$6,410
- Take-home pay$95,488
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Materials Scientist pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $96,310 | $46.30 | $71,989 | $5,999 |
| 25th percentile | $103,890 | $49.95 | $76,942 | $6,412 |
| Median (50th) | $132,600 | $63.75 | $95,488 | $7,957 |
| 75th percentile | $145,600 | $70.00 | $103,724 | $8,644 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $169,330 | $81.41 | $118,757 | $9,896 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $132,600 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median materials scientist's $95,488 take-home pay has the buying power of $88,198 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Boston, MA has 4.7× the national concentration of materials scientist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for materials scientists, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #2 of 3 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $133,340 | $95,948 | $92,619 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $132,600 | $95,488 | $88,198 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $120,650 | $87,629 | $77,849 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 3 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a materials scientist make in Boston, MA?
The median materials scientist salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $132,600 a year, or about $63.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $103,890 and $145,600.
What is a materials scientist’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $132,600 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $95,488 a year ($7,957 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,410 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a materials scientist?
Pay here is 13% above the national median of $117,790. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $88,198 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #2 of 3 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a materials scientist afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 29% of a median materials scientist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Biochemist and Biophysicist — $131,550
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — $129,500
- Chemist — $127,290
- Microbiologist — $122,350
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologist — $121,270
- Epidemiologist — $115,890
- Psychologists, All Other — $112,900
- Biological Scientists, All Other — $110,410
- Economist — $108,140
- Physicist — $106,000
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist — $105,960
- Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other — $105,670