19 Series · SOC 19-2032

Materials Scientists Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$117,790
Median / year
$197,290
Top 10% earn
+4.9%
Growth '23–'33
8,470
US workers

Materials Scientists earn a median of $117,790 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $117,790, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $66,820 (10th percentile) to $197,290 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 8,470 US workers. California pays the most ($177,030), since pay varies by state and metro area.

19 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Materials Scientists earn a median of $117,790, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 90% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Life, Physical, and Social Science, it ranks #8 of 48 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 4.9% by 2033.

$117,790
Median annual wage
Top 10%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#8 of 48
in Life, Physical, and Social Science
3.0×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: California at $177,030. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

Materials Scientists (SOC 19-2032) pays a national median of $117,790 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $66,820 at the 10th percentile to $197,290 at the 90th, with a mean of $126,180 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 8,470 Americans work in this occupation across 30 reporting states and 36 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +4.9% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as about average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 600 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Bachelor's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 1.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.7 per 100.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. California pays the highest state median at $177,030, which is +50% above the national figure. The top metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $231,920 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.

BLS OEWS May 2025 8,470 jobs Median $117,790/yr

Median Salary

$117,790

per year

Median Hourly

$56.63/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$126,180

average

Employment

8,470

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Materials Scientists pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$117,790 Top 10% higher than 90% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). This entry sits in this band. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 19-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Materials Scientists; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 25 19-series occupations with growth data, Materials Scientists sits on the slower-growing side at +4.9% growth and $117,790 median pay.

Among 25 19-series occupations with growth data, Materials Scientists sits on the slower-growing side at +4.9% growth and $117,790 median pay. Scatter plot of 25 data points. $0$50000$100000$150000$200000 -5%0%5%10%15% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage
Among 25 19-series occupations with growth data, Materials Scientists sits on the slower-growing side at +4.9% growth and $117,790 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+4.9%

About average

Annual Openings

600

per year (projected)

Typical Education

Bachelor's degree

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
A

Very Safe

Safety Grade (BLS 2023)

Fatality Rate

1.5/100K

Injury Rate

0.7/100

Danger Index

3.6/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Materials Scientists roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Reading Comprehension 4.0
Active Listening 4.0
Science 4.0
Critical Thinking 4.0
Complex Problem Solving 4.0
Writing 3.9
Speaking 3.8
Active Learning 3.8
Judgment and Decision Making 3.6
Mathematics 3.5

Knowledge Areas

Engineering and Technology 4.8
Chemistry 4.6
Physics 4.4
Mathematics 4.3
Computers and Electronics 3.8
Production and Processing 3.7
Design 3.6
Mechanical 3.4
English Language 3.4
Education and Training 3.0

Key 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.
  • ▸ Research methods of processing, forming, and firing materials to develop such products as ceramic dental fillings, unbreakable dinner plates, and telescope lenses.
  • ▸ Perform experiments and computer modeling to study the nature, structure, and physical and chemical properties of metals and their alloys, and their responses to applied forces.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$66,820$89,990$117,790$150,550$197,290
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

$32.13$43.26$56.63$72.38$94.85
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$66,820

25th Percentile

$89,990

Median

$117,790

75th Percentile

$150,550

90th Percentile

$197,290

Salary by State

Highest Paying States

1. California $177,030 2. Oregon $150,550 3. Wisconsin $137,700 4. District of Columbia $137,600 5. Massachusetts $132,600

Lowest Paying States

26. Tennessee $69,010 27. Montana $71,810 28. Texas $72,700 29. Iowa $88,320 30. Georgia $91,970
View all 30 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 California $177,030 +50% above national
2 Oregon $150,550 +28% above national
3 Wisconsin $137,700 +17% above national
4 District of Columbia $137,600 +17% above national
5 Massachusetts $132,600 +13% above national
6 Minnesota $132,160 +12% above national
7 New York $131,740 +12% above national
8 Indiana $130,540 +11% above national
9 Connecticut $130,320 +11% above national
10 Washington $127,250 +8% above national
11 Utah $126,840 +8% above national
12 Illinois $125,850 +7% above national
13 Virginia $124,150 +5% above national
14 New Hampshire $119,990 +2% above national
15 Colorado $117,290 same as national
16 Kansas $115,490 2% below national
17 Maryland $112,400 5% below national
18 Ohio $108,830 8% below national
19 Michigan $107,410 9% below national
20 Pennsylvania $106,920 9% below national
21 North Carolina $106,470 10% below national
22 New Jersey $103,150 12% below national
23 Florida $102,340 13% below national
24 South Carolina $101,930 13% below national
25 Nevada $97,490 17% below national
26 Georgia $91,970 22% below national
27 Iowa $88,320 25% below national
28 Texas $72,700 38% below national
29 Montana $71,810 39% below national
30 Tennessee $69,010 41% below national

Salary by Metro Area

Highest Paying Metros

1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $231,920 2. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $231,710 3. Worcester, MA $151,070 4. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $150,550 5. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $149,980

Lowest Paying Metros

32. Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area $55,850 33. Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $60,690 34. College Station-Bryan, TX $63,390 35. Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $75,360 36. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $82,080
View all 36 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $231,920 +97% above national
2 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $231,710 +97% above national
3 Worcester, MA $151,070 +28% above national
4 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $150,550 +28% above national
5 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $149,980 +27% above national
6 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $137,520 +17% above national
7 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $133,340 +13% above national
8 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $132,650 +13% above national
9 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $132,600 +13% above national
10 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $132,160 +12% above national
11 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $129,050 +10% above national
12 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $127,490 +8% above national
13 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $127,470 +8% above national
14 Boulder, CO $126,880 +8% above national
15 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $123,070 +4% above national
16 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $120,650 +2% above national
17 Trenton-Princeton, NJ $117,650 same as national
18 Cleveland, OH $111,810 5% below national
19 Akron, OH $109,720 7% below national
20 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $107,650 9% below national
21 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $107,500 9% below national
22 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $106,720 9% below national
23 Greensboro-High Point, NC $106,470 10% below national
24 Columbus, OH $104,430 11% below national
25 Rochester, NY $102,890 13% below national
26 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $102,070 13% below national
27 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $101,120 14% below national
28 Reno, NV $97,750 17% below national
29 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $96,050 18% below national
30 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $93,240 21% below national
31 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $92,390 22% below national
32 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $82,080 30% below national
33 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $75,360 36% below national
34 College Station-Bryan, TX $63,390 46% below national
35 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $60,690 48% below national
36 Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area $55,850 53% below national

Similar Occupations in the Same Category

Other roles in SOC major group 19 (life physical and social science) with comparable pay and career paths.

Agricultural Technicians

SOC 19-4012

Animal Scientists

SOC 19-1011

Anthropologists and Archeologists

SOC 19-3091

Astronomers

SOC 19-2011

Atmospheric and Space Scientists

SOC 19-2021
Compare Materials Scientists side-by-side with another occupation →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Materials Scientists make? ▼
The median annual salary for Materials Scientists is $117,790 ($56.63/hour). The salary range spans from $66,820 at the 10th percentile to $197,290 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Materials Scientists the most? ▼
California pays the highest median salary for Materials Scientists at $177,030/year, which is +50% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Materials Scientists? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Materials Scientists is Bachelor's degree.
How dangerous is being a Materials Scientists? ▼
Materials Scientists has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 1.5 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 0.7 per 100 workers.
Is Materials Scientists a good career? ▼
Employment for Materials Scientists is projected to grow 4.9% from 2024 to 2034, which is about average. About 600 openings are projected each year.
How does Materials Scientists pay vary by state? ▼
Materials Scientists salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is California at $177,030/year, while Georgia pays the least at $91,970/year. BLS data covers 30 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Materials Scientists? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Materials Scientists is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $231,920/year. BLS reports wage data for 36 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.

What to do with this data

How to use Materials Scientists pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $150,550/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: California leads at $177,030/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.