Careers / Materials Scientists
Materials Scientists — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$117,790
United States, 2025
Employment
8,470
United States, 2025
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Job Zone 4
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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
- Experience required
- None
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.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$66,820
25th percentile
$89,990
75th percentile
$150,550
90th percentile
$197,290
Most important skills
- Active Listening4.0
- Complex Problem Solving4.0
- Science4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Writing3.9
- Active Learning3.8
- Speaking3.8
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6
- Mathematics3.5
- Operations Analysis3.1
- Monitoring3.1
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 19 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
19
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Science | 4.0 | 4.9 | Not selected | 4.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | 4.8 | Not selected | 4.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 | 4.3 | Not selected | 4.3 |
| Writing | 3.9 | 4.4 | Not selected | 4.4 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.0 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Speaking | 3.8 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.8 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Mathematics | 3.5 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Operations Analysis | 3.1 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.1 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Persuasion | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Materials ScientistsHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $231,920 | 180 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $231,710 | 380 | 2025 |
| CA | $177,030 | 1,030 | 2025 |
| Worcester, MA | $151,070 | 80 | 2025 |
| OR | $150,550 | 100 | 2025 |
| Portland, OR | $150,550 | 90 | 2025 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $149,980 | 200 | 2025 |
| WI | $137,700 | 70 | 2025 |
| DC | $137,600 | — | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | $137,520 | 50 | 2025 |
| Chicago, IL | $133,340 | 460 | 2025 |
| Albany, NY | $132,650 | 150 | 2025 |
| MA | $132,600 | 890 | 2025 |
| Boston, MA | $132,600 | 700 | 2025 |
| MN | $132,160 | 290 | 2025 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $132,160 | 270 | 2025 |
| NY | $131,740 | 530 | 2025 |
| IN | $130,540 | 320 | 2025 |
| CT | $130,320 | 50 | 2025 |
| Riverside, CA | $129,050 | 50 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Materials Scientists to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.