Materials Scientist Salary in New York, NY
Materials Scientists in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $120,650 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $87,629 take-home, or $7,302 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median materials scientist salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$17,713
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,480
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,749
- New York income tax$6,078
- Take-home pay$87,629
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.90% state
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Materials Scientist pay by experience in New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,450 | $38.20 | $61,030 | $5,086 |
| 25th percentile | $83,120 | $39.96 | $63,413 | $5,284 |
| Median (50th) | $120,650 | $58.00 | $87,629 | $7,302 |
| 75th percentile | $137,210 | $65.97 | $97,994 | $8,166 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $179,270 | $86.19 | $124,260 | $10,355 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $120,650 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median materials scientist's $87,629 take-home pay has the buying power of $77,849 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Materials Scientist jobs are about as common in New York, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for materials scientists, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #3 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 New York, NY?
The median materials scientist salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $120,650 a year, or about $58.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $83,120 and $137,210.
What is a materials scientist’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $120,650 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $87,629 a year ($7,302 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,078 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a materials scientist?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $117,790. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $77,849 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #3 of 3 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a materials scientist afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 33% of a median materials scientist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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