How much does a materials scientist make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $56.63 an hour or $9,816 a month.
- Hourly
- $56.63
- Average (mean)
- $126,200
- Jobs
- 8,470
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $66,820 | $32.13 | |
| 25th | $89,990 | $43.26 | |
| Median | $117,800 | $56.63 | |
| 75th | $150,600 | $72.38 | |
| 90th | $197,300 | $94.85 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| California | $177,000 |
| Oregon | $150,600 |
| Wisconsin | $137,700 |
| District of Columbia | $137,600 |
| Massachusetts | $132,600 |
| Minnesota | $132,200 |
| New York | $131,700 |
| Indiana | $130,500 |
| Connecticut | $130,300 |
| Washington | $127,300 |
| Utah | $126,800 |
| Illinois | $125,900 |
| Virginia | $124,200 |
| New Hampshire | $120,000 |
| Colorado | $117,300 |
| Kansas | $115,500 |
| Maryland | $112,400 |
| Ohio | $108,800 |
| Michigan | $107,400 |
| Pennsylvania | $106,900 |
| North Carolina | $106,500 |
| New Jersey | $103,200 |
| Florida | $102,300 |
| South Carolina | $101,900 |
| Nevada | $97,490 |
| Georgia | $91,970 |
| Iowa | $88,320 |
| Texas | $72,700 |
| Montana | $71,810 |
| Tennessee | $69,010 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $231,900 |
| San Francisco, CA | $231,700 |
| Worcester, MA | $151,100 |
| Portland, OR | $150,600 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $150,000 |
| Seattle, WA | $137,500 |
| Chicago, IL | $133,300 |
| Albany, NY | $132,700 |
| Boston, MA | $132,600 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $132,200 |
| Riverside, CA | $129,100 |
| Washington, DC | $127,500 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $127,500 |
| Boulder, CO | $126,900 |
| Durham, NC | $123,100 |
In other countries
Materials Scientist belongs to the international group "Chemists".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Astronomer$128,800
- Physicist$172,300
- Atmospheric and Space Scientist$99,070
- Chemist$91,240
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist$82,220
- Geoscientist$101,900
- Hydrologist$96,600
- Physical Scientist$122,600
Frequently asked questions
How much does a materials scientist make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $56.63 ($117,800 a year).
How much does a materials scientist make a month?
About $9,816 a month before tax, based on a median of $117,800 a year.
How much does a materials scientist make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $66,820 or less a year ($32.13 an hour); the top 10% make $197,300 or more.
Which state pays materials scientists the most?
California, with a median of $177,000 a year, followed by Oregon ($150,600) and Wisconsin ($137,700).
Which city pays materials scientists the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $231,900 a year.
How many materials scientists are there in the United States?
About 8,470 people work as materials scientists.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.