Materials Scientists · Illinois

Materials Scientists Salary in Illinois

Materials Scientists in Illinois earn a median annual wage of $125,850 —6.8% above the national median of $117,790. That ranks IL #12 of 30 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$125,850
Median hourly
$60.50
Entry level (P10)
$84,070
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$184,130
90th percentile
Employment
380
0.1 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+6.8%
U.S. $117,790

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$84,070
$104,350
$125,850
$145,620
$84,070$125,850$184,130
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $125,850.

Employment is 1.15× as concentrated as the national average, making Illinois a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for materials scientists

All 30 states ranked by median annual wage. Illinois is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1California$177,030$85.111,0301.04
2Oregon$150,550$72.381000.95
3Wisconsin$137,700$66.20700.47
4District of Columbia$137,600$66.16——
5Massachusetts$132,600$63.758904.50
6Minnesota$132,160$63.542901.79
7New York$131,740$63.345301.00
8Indiana$130,540$62.763201.82
9Connecticut$130,320$62.65500.57
10Washington$127,250$61.182901.47

Related occupations in Illinois

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Illinois.

Frequently asked questions

How much do materials scientists make in Illinois?

The median annual wage for materials scientists in Illinois is $125,850, or $60.50 per hour. That is 6.8% above the national median of $117,790.

What is the entry-level materials scientists salary in Illinois?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $84,070 per year ($40.42/hour). The 25th percentile is $104,350.

How many people work as materials scientists in Illinois?

About 380 people work in this occupation in Illinois, or 0.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Illinois a good state for materials scientists?

Illinois ranks #12 of 30 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.15x as concentrated as the national average, making Illinois a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays materials scientists the most?

California has the highest median wage at $177,030 per year, followed by Oregon ($150,550) and Wisconsin ($137,700).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes