The average salary for a materials scientist in the United States is $112,440, but the range typically falls between $82,670 and $134,580. This corresponds to an average hourly wage of $54.06, with a range between $39.75 and $64.7.
There are approximately 8,810 people employed as a materials scientist in the United States. With New Jersey, California, New York employing the highest number of materials scientists.The state with the best pay for a materials scientist is Florida, with an average annual salary of $125,630, while Texas has the lowest average annual salary of $81,780.
| Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $64,130 | $30.83 |
| 25th Percentile | $82,670 | $39.75 |
| Median | $106,160 | $51.04 |
| 75th Percentile | $134,580 | $64.7 |
| 90th Percentile | $170,900 | $82.16 |
The salary of a materials scientist can vary depending on the state. Below is a map of the United States showing the average annual salary for a materials scientist in each state. The darker the color, the higher the salary. The best states for materials scientists are Florida, New York, California, New Hampshire, Massachusetts while the worst states are Texas, Michigan, South Carolina, Oregon, Maine.
| State | Low-end | Average | High-end |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $80,220 | $135,150 | $182,160 |
| Delaware | $61,870 | $118,070 | $180,130 |
| Florida | $93,020 | $125,630 | $170,560 |
| Georgia | $60,220 | $98,260 | $147,660 |
| Idaho | $73,080 | $94,490 | $169,240 |
| Illinois | $77,540 | $115,130 | $162,030 |
| Indiana | $73,150 | $105,430 | $141,480 |
| Iowa | $51,900 | $92,380 | $122,540 |
| Maine | $64,980 | $98,450 | $160,220 |
| Maryland | $51,430 | $108,890 | $205,590 |
| Massachusetts | $86,730 | $120,420 | $163,890 |
| Michigan | $55,410 | $85,730 | $124,990 |
| Minnesota | $75,520 | $111,560 | $168,300 |
| New Hampshire | $69,710 | $122,400 | $174,110 |
| New Jersey | $75,790 | $97,910 | $127,360 |
| New York | $84,430 | $138,070 | $209,190 |
| North Carolina | $52,740 | $102,660 | $142,170 |
| Ohio | $64,250 | $97,420 | $138,740 |
| Oregon | $76,960 | $108,340 | $186,020 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,180 | $98,980 | $151,310 |
| South Carolina | $47,880 | $86,880 | $138,120 |
| Texas | $40,100 | $81,780 | $135,420 |
| Utah | $63,660 | $111,000 | $150,140 |
| Virginia | $49,030 | $117,660 | $174,700 |
| Washington | $88,720 | $129,830 | $169,790 |
| Wisconsin | $81,370 | $114,970 | $165,030 |
Even between cities, the salary of a materials scientist can vary. For example, the areas with the highest average salary for materials scientists is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area, CA with an average salary of $158,350.The city with the lowest average salary for materials scientists is College Station-Bryan area, TX with an average salary of $55,790.
Areas with highest average salaries for materials scientists
Areas with lowest average salaries for materials scientists
The number of materials scientists in the United States has been increasing over the years. Since 2020, the number of materials scientists has increased by 1,880. On average, the number of materials scientists has been increasing by 6.8% each year. The salary of materials scientists has been increasing. Since 2020, the salary of materials scientists has increased by $7,990. On average, the salary of materials scientists has been increasing by 1.9% each year.
Materials Scientists are part of the life, physical, and social science occupations group. Below is a comparison of the average annual salary for materials scientists compared to other jobs in the same occupation group. View all life, physical, and social science occupations jobs here.
$95,560 per year
$120,310 per year
$154,380 per year
$73,160 per year
$132,650 per year
$101,520 per year
