Materials scientists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $66,820 | $32.13 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $117,790 | $56.63 |
| Mean (average) | $126,180 | $60.67 |
| 90th percentile | $197,290 | $94.85 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Materials scientists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 31 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $177,030 | $96,050 | $300,330 | 1,030 | 1.04 |
| Colorado | $117,290 | $76,820 | $160,770 | 370 | 2.35 |
| Connecticut | $130,320 | $72,440 | $201,790 | 50 | 0.57 |
| Delaware | Data unavailable | 90 | 3.42 | ||
| District of Columbia | $137,600 | $132,790 | $161,700 | ||
| Florida | $102,340 | $77,270 | $155,070 | 200 | 0.36 |
| Georgia | $91,970 | $63,820 | $154,600 | 350 | 1.31 |
| Illinois | $125,850 | $84,070 | $184,130 | 380 | 1.15 |
| Indiana | $130,540 | $53,660 | $197,910 | 320 | 1.82 |
| Iowa | $88,320 | $52,450 | $149,020 | 180 | 2.09 |
| Kansas | $115,490 | $86,800 | $182,780 | 40 | 0.55 |
| Maryland | $112,400 | $69,990 | $165,670 | 270 | 1.77 |
| Massachusetts | $132,600 | $96,310 | $168,390 | 890 | 4.5 |
| Michigan | $107,410 | $54,240 | $167,940 | 230 | 0.97 |
| Minnesota | $132,160 | $83,500 | $172,500 | 290 | 1.79 |
| Montana | $71,810 | $55,030 | $129,960 | 50 | 1.82 |
| Nevada | $97,490 | $78,350 | $121,610 | 100 | 1.15 |
| New Hampshire | $119,990 | $65,200 | $173,640 | 80 | 2.07 |
| New Jersey | $103,150 | $79,450 | $139,550 | 440 | 1.9 |
| New York | $131,740 | $87,880 | $204,830 | 530 | 1 |
| North Carolina | $106,470 | $65,720 | $161,870 | 490 | 1.84 |
| Ohio | $108,830 | $54,620 | $159,130 | 450 | 1.47 |
| Oregon | $150,550 | $105,030 | $199,000 | 100 | 0.95 |
| Pennsylvania | $106,920 | $68,850 | $159,170 | 100 | 0.31 |
| South Carolina | $101,930 | $70,060 | $137,490 | 80 | 0.65 |
| Tennessee | $69,010 | $57,800 | $150,590 | 60 | 0.36 |
| Texas | $72,700 | $50,970 | $151,050 | 300 | 0.39 |
| Utah | $126,840 | $67,360 | $175,440 | 110 | 1.13 |
| Virginia | $124,150 | $63,820 | $184,840 | 100 | 0.47 |
| Washington | $127,250 | $76,390 | $209,800 | 290 | 1.47 |
| Wisconsin | $137,700 | $73,650 | $160,640 | 70 | 0.47 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for materials scientists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 600. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for materials scientists
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Textile Science CIP 19.0904
- Materials Science CIP 40.1001
- Materials Chemistry CIP 40.1002
- Materials Sciences, Other CIP 40.1099
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
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 skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- Python (in demand)
- R (in demand)
- Hypertext markup language HTML (hot technology)
- IBM SPSS Statistics (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- The MathWorks MATLAB (hot technology)
- ANSYS LS-DYNA
- ANSYS Multiphysics
- Accelrys Materials Studio
- Advanced Chemistry Development Analytical Laboratory
- Bruker AXS EVA
- Bruker AXS LEPTOS
- Bruker AXS TOPAS
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Persuasion, Operations Analysis, Systems Evaluation, Social Perceptiveness.
Common job titles: Applications Scientist, Materials Research Engineer, Materials Scientist, Metallurgical Engineer, Micro Electrical/Mechanical Systems Device Scientist (MEMS Device Scientist), Polymer Materials Consultant, R and D Scientist (Research and Development Scientist), Research Scientist, Scientist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do materials scientists make?
The national median annual wage for materials scientists was $117,790 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $66,820 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $197,290. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do materials scientists need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is materials scientists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of materials scientists to change +8.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 600 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay materials scientists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($177,030), Oregon ($150,550), Wisconsin ($137,700). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.