Materials Scientists Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for materials scientists in the U.S. is $117,790 ($56.63 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $117,790
- Mean annual wage
- $126,180
- Median hourly wage
- $56.63
- Employment
- 8,470
8,470 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $66,820 | $32.13 |
| 25th percentile | $89,990 | $43.26 |
| Median (50th) | $117,790 | $56.63 |
| 75th percentile | $150,550 | $72.38 |
| 90th percentile | $197,290 | $94.85 |
Highest-paying states for materials scientists
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| California | $177,030 | 1,030 |
| Oregon | $150,550 | 100 |
| Wisconsin | $137,700 | 70 |
| District of Columbia | $137,600 | — |
| Massachusetts | $132,600 | 890 |
| Minnesota | $132,160 | 290 |
| New York | $131,740 | 530 |
| Indiana | $130,540 | 320 |
| Connecticut | $130,320 | 50 |
| Washington | $127,250 | 290 |
Lowest-paying states
- Tennessee: $69,010 median annual wage
- Montana: $71,810 median annual wage
- Texas: $72,700 median annual wage
- Iowa: $88,320 median annual wage
- Georgia: $91,970 median annual wage
About this occupation
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.
Typical tasks
- 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.
- 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.
- Teach in colleges and universities.
- Recommend materials for reliable performance in various environments.
- Plan laboratory experiments to confirm feasibility of processes and techniques used in the production of materials with special characteristics.
- 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.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Bachelor's degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 1.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.7% |
| Some college, no degree | 3.2% |
| Associate's degree | 1.5% |
| Bachelor's degree | 51.3% |
| Master's degree | 19.3% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 20.5% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.