Materials Scientists Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for materials scientists is $117,790, or $56.63 per hour. About 8,470 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $177,030 in California to $69,010 in Tennessee.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 30 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $177,030 | $85.11 | 1,030 | 1.04 |
| 2 | Oregon | $150,550 | $72.38 | 100 | 0.95 |
| 3 | Wisconsin | $137,700 | $66.20 | 70 | 0.47 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $137,600 | $66.16 | — | — |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $132,600 | $63.75 | 890 | 4.50 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $132,160 | $63.54 | 290 | 1.79 |
| 7 | New York | $131,740 | $63.34 | 530 | 1.00 |
| 8 | Indiana | $130,540 | $62.76 | 320 | 1.82 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $130,320 | $62.65 | 50 | 0.57 |
| 10 | Washington | $127,250 | $61.18 | 290 | 1.47 |
| 11 | Utah | $126,840 | $60.98 | 110 | 1.13 |
| 12 | Illinois | $125,850 | $60.50 | 380 | 1.15 |
| 13 | Virginia | $124,150 | $59.69 | 100 | 0.47 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $119,990 | $57.69 | 80 | 2.07 |
| 15 | Colorado | $117,290 | $56.39 | 370 | 2.35 |
| 16 | Kansas | $115,490 | $55.52 | 40 | 0.55 |
| 17 | Maryland | $112,400 | $54.04 | 270 | 1.77 |
| 18 | Ohio | $108,830 | $52.32 | 450 | 1.47 |
| 19 | Michigan | $107,410 | $51.64 | 230 | 0.97 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $106,920 | $51.41 | 100 | 0.31 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $106,470 | $51.19 | 490 | 1.84 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $103,150 | $49.59 | 440 | 1.90 |
| 23 | Florida | $102,340 | $49.20 | 200 | 0.36 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $101,930 | $49.01 | 80 | 0.65 |
| 25 | Nevada | $97,490 | $46.87 | 100 | 1.15 |
| 26 | Georgia | $91,970 | $44.22 | 350 | 1.31 |
| 27 | Iowa | $88,320 | $42.46 | 180 | 2.09 |
| 28 | Texas | $72,700 | $34.95 | 300 | 0.39 |
| 29 | Montana | $71,810 | $34.53 | 50 | 1.82 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $69,010 | $33.18 | 60 | 0.36 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do materials scientists make?
The median annual wage for materials scientists in the United States is $117,790, or $56.63 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $66,820, and the top 10% earn $197,290.
How many materials scientists are employed in the U.S.?
About 8,470 people work as materials scientists nationwide.
Which state pays materials scientists the most?
California pays the most at a median of $177,030, followed by Oregon ($150,550) and Wisconsin ($137,700).
Which state pays materials scientists the least?
Tennessee has the lowest median at $69,010.
Where are materials scientists jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Massachusetts at 4.50×.