Materials Scientists Salary
The median materials scientists salary in the United States is $117,790 per year ($56.63/hour). Salaries range from $66,820 at the entry level to $197,290+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 8,470 materials scientists jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 4.9% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$117,790
per year
Hourly Rate
$56.63
per hour
Employment
8,470
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$66,820
25th percentile
$89,990
Median
$117,790
75th percentile
$150,550
90th percentile
$197,290
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+4.9%
As fast as average
Annual Openings
600
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
Materials Scientists Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$69K$177K■ No data
Top Paying States
California
$177K
+50%
Oregon
$151K
+28%
Wisconsin
$138K
+17%
District of Columbia
$138K
+17%
Massachusetts
$133K
+13%
Minnesota
$132K
+12%
New York
$132K
+12%
Indiana
$131K
+11%
Connecticut
$130K
+11%
Washington
$127K
+8%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| California | $177,030 | +50.3% |
| Oregon | $150,550 | +27.8% |
| Wisconsin | $137,700 | +16.9% |
| District of Columbia | $137,600 | +16.8% |
| Massachusetts | $132,600 | +12.6% |
| Minnesota | $132,160 | +12.2% |
| New York | $131,740 | +11.8% |
| Indiana | $130,540 | +10.8% |
| Connecticut | $130,320 | +10.6% |
| Washington | $127,250 | +8.0% |
Showing 1–10 of 30
Materials Scientists Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $231,920 | +96.9% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $231,710 | +96.7% |
| Worcester, MA | $151,070 | +28.3% |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $150,550 | +27.8% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $149,980 | +27.3% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $137,520 | +16.8% |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $133,340 | +13.2% |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $132,650 | +12.6% |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $132,600 | +12.6% |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $132,160 | +12.2% |
Showing 1–10 of 35
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A materials scientists earning $117,790/year would need 506 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 543 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how materials scientists salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Materials Scientists salary trend (2011–2024) →