Materials Scientists salary by location
National median: $117,790 (2025 OEWS). Percentages below describe each area's published median against that national figure.
| Location | Type | Median | vs national | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | metropolitan | $231,920 | +96.9% | 180 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | metropolitan | $231,710 | +96.7% | 380 | 2025 |
| CA | state | $177,030 | +50.3% | 1,030 | 2025 |
| Worcester, MA | metropolitan | $151,070 | +28.3% | 80 | 2025 |
| OR | state | $150,550 | +27.8% | 100 | 2025 |
| Portland, OR | metropolitan | $150,550 | +27.8% | 90 | 2025 |
| Los Angeles, CA | metropolitan | $149,980 | +27.3% | 200 | 2025 |
| WI | state | $137,700 | +16.9% | 70 | 2025 |
| DC | state | $137,600 | +16.8% | — | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | metropolitan | $137,520 | +16.8% | 50 | 2025 |
| Chicago, IL | metropolitan | $133,340 | +13.2% | 460 | 2025 |
| Albany, NY | metropolitan | $132,650 | +12.6% | 150 | 2025 |
| MA | state | $132,600 | +12.6% | 890 | 2025 |
| Boston, MA | metropolitan | $132,600 | +12.6% | 700 | 2025 |
| MN | state | $132,160 | +12.2% | 290 | 2025 |
| Minneapolis, MN | metropolitan | $132,160 | +12.2% | 270 | 2025 |
| NY | state | $131,740 | +11.8% | 530 | 2025 |
| IN | state | $130,540 | +10.8% | 320 | 2025 |
| CT | state | $130,320 | +10.6% | 50 | 2025 |
| Riverside, CA | metropolitan | $129,050 | +9.6% | 50 | 2025 |
| Washington, DC | metropolitan | $127,490 | +8.2% | 120 | 2025 |
| Philadelphia, PA | metropolitan | $127,470 | +8.2% | 180 | 2025 |
| WA | state | $127,250 | +8.0% | 290 | 2025 |
| Boulder, CO | metropolitan | $126,880 | +7.7% | 60 | 2025 |
| UT | state | $126,840 | +7.7% | 110 | 2025 |
| IL | state | $125,850 | +6.8% | 380 | 2025 |
| VA | state | $124,150 | +5.4% | 100 | 2025 |
| Durham, NC | metropolitan | $123,070 | +4.5% | 110 | 2025 |
| New York, NY | metropolitan | $120,650 | +2.4% | 560 | 2025 |
| NH | state | $119,990 | +1.9% | 80 | 2025 |
| Trenton, NJ | metropolitan | $117,650 | −0.1% | 60 | 2025 |
| CO | state | $117,290 | −0.4% | 370 | 2025 |
| KS | state | $115,490 | −2.0% | 40 | 2025 |
| MD | state | $112,400 | −4.6% | 270 | 2025 |
| Cleveland, OH | metropolitan | $111,810 | −5.1% | 50 | 2025 |
| Akron, OH | metropolitan | $109,720 | −6.9% | 70 | 2025 |
| OH | state | $108,830 | −7.6% | 450 | 2025 |
| Detroit, MI | metropolitan | $107,650 | −8.6% | 100 | 2025 |
| Cincinnati, OH | metropolitan | $107,500 | −8.7% | 200 | 2025 |
| MI | state | $107,410 | −8.8% | 230 | 2025 |
| PA | state | $106,920 | −9.2% | 100 | 2025 |
| Denver, CO | metropolitan | $106,720 | −9.4% | 240 | 2025 |
| Greensboro, NC | metropolitan | $106,470 | −9.6% | 60 | 2025 |
| NC | state | $106,470 | −9.6% | 490 | 2025 |
| Columbus, OH | metropolitan | $104,430 | −11.3% | 80 | 2025 |
| NJ | state | $103,150 | −12.4% | 440 | 2025 |
| Rochester, NY | metropolitan | $102,890 | −12.6% | 40 | 2025 |
| FL | state | $102,340 | −13.1% | 200 | 2025 |
| Charlotte, NC | metropolitan | $102,070 | −13.3% | 60 | 2025 |
| SC | state | $101,930 | −13.5% | 80 | 2025 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | metropolitan | $101,120 | −14.2% | 30 | 2025 |
| Reno, NV | metropolitan | $97,750 | −17.0% | 60 | 2025 |
| NV | state | $97,490 | −17.2% | 100 | 2025 |
| San Diego, CA | metropolitan | $96,050 | −18.5% | 80 | 2025 |
| Atlanta, GA | metropolitan | $93,240 | −20.8% | 240 | 2025 |
| Baltimore, MD | metropolitan | $92,390 | −21.6% | 130 | 2025 |
| GA | state | $91,970 | −21.9% | 350 | 2025 |
| IA | state | $88,320 | −25.0% | 180 | 2025 |
| Dallas, TX | metropolitan | $82,080 | −30.3% | 60 | 2025 |
| Houston, TX | metropolitan | $75,360 | −36.0% | 90 | 2025 |
| TX | state | $72,700 | −38.3% | 300 | 2025 |
| MT | state | $71,810 | −39.0% | 50 | 2025 |
| TN | state | $69,010 | −41.4% | 60 | 2025 |
| College Station, TX | metropolitan | $63,390 | −46.2% | 60 | 2025 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY | metropolitan | $60,690 | −48.5% | 40 | 2025 |