How much does a materials scientist make in San Diego?
$96,050a year
Median yearly pay for materials scientists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $46.18 an hour or $8,004 a month.
- Hourly
- $46.18
- Vs. national median
- -18%
- Rank among cities
- 29 of 35
- Jobs in the area
- 80
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $49,570Median: $96,050Highest 10%: $161,900
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,570 | $23.83 | |
| 25th | $60,100 | $28.89 | |
| Median | $96,050 | $46.18 | |
| 75th | $138,600 | $66.63 | |
| 90th | $161,900 | $77.83 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for materials scientists.
| San Jose, CA | $231,900 |
| San Francisco, CA | $231,700 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $150,000 |
| Riverside, CA | $129,100 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Physicist | $156,500 |
| Psychologist | $148,800 |
| Physical Scientist | $132,400 |
| School Psychologist | $131,100 |
| Medical Scientist | $131,000 |
| Epidemiologist | $125,300 |
| Economist | $122,800 |
| Biochemist and Biophysicist | $121,700 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientist | $120,400 |
| Microbiologist | $108,900 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a materials scientist make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $46.18 ($96,050 a year).
Do materials scientists make more in San Diego than the national average?
No: $96,050 against $117,800 nationally, 18% less.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $177,000, so San Diego pays 46% less.
Where does San Diego rank for materials scientist pay?
29 of 35 metro areas with data.
How much does a materials scientist make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $49,570 or less a year; the top 10% make $161,900 or more.
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.