Materials Scientists Career, Salary and Skills
Materials Scientists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $117,790 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 8,470. Wage data is published for 65 locations.
Occupation description
Research and study the structures and chemical properties of various natural and synthetic or composite materials, including metals, alloys, rubber, ceramics, semiconductors, polymers, and glass. Determine ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials with new or specific properties for use in a variety of products and applications. Includes glass scientists, ceramic scientists, metallurgical scientists, and polymer scientists.
O*NET code
19-2032.00
Job zone
4
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$117,790
Hourly median
$56.63
Employment
8,470
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.00 | 4.25 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.75 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Active Listening | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Science | 4.00 | 4.88 |
| Writing | 3.88 | 4.38 |
| Active Learning | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Speaking | 3.75 | 4.12 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.62 | 3.88 |
| Mathematics | 3.50 | 3.88 |
Typical tasks
- Conduct research on the structures and properties of materials, such as metals, alloys, polymers, and ceramics, to obtain information that could be used to develop new products or enhance existing ones.
- Test metals to determine conformance to specifications of mechanical strength, strength-weight ratio, ductility, magnetic and electrical properties, and resistance to abrasion, corrosion, heat, and cold.
- Test material samples for tolerance under tension, compression, and shear to determine the cause of metal failures.
- Determine ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials with new or specific properties for use in a variety of products and applications.
- Prepare reports, manuscripts, proposals, and technical manuals for use by other scientists and requestors, such as sponsors and customers.
- Plan laboratory experiments to confirm feasibility of processes and techniques used in the production of materials with special characteristics.
- Recommend materials for reliable performance in various environments.
- Supervise and monitor production processes to ensure efficient use of equipment, timely changes to specifications, and project completion within time frame and budget.
Technology
- Microsoft Office software
- Wolfram Research Mathematica
- Accelrys Materials Studio
- Advanced Chemistry Development Analytical Laboratory
- ANSYS LS-DYNA
- ANSYS Multiphysics
- Bruker AXS EVA
- Bruker AXS LEPTOS
- Bruker AXS TOPAS
- Chempute Software HSC Chemistry
- CrystalMaker
- Dassault Systemes Abaqus
- Email software
- GAMESS-US
Materials Scientists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Materials Scientists Salary in CAMedian $177,030 · Employment 1,030
- Materials Scientists Salary in MAMedian $132,600 · Employment 890
- Materials Scientists Salary in Boston, MAMedian $132,600 · Employment 700
- Materials Scientists Salary in New York, NYMedian $120,650 · Employment 560
- Materials Scientists Salary in NYMedian $131,740 · Employment 530
- Materials Scientists Salary in NCMedian $106,470 · Employment 490
- Materials Scientists Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $133,340 · Employment 460
- Materials Scientists Salary in OHMedian $108,830 · Employment 450
- Materials Scientists Salary in NJMedian $103,150 · Employment 440
- Materials Scientists Salary in San Francisco, CAMedian $231,710 · Employment 380
- Materials Scientists Salary in ILMedian $125,850 · Employment 380
- Materials Scientists Salary in COMedian $117,290 · Employment 370
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- Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansNational median $66,120
- Chemical TechniciansNational median $60,390
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.