Materials Scientist Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$104,000
estimated national base salary
$80,000 to $134,000. Last updated September 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $117,790 for Materials Scientists (SOC 19-2032) across the United States, based on 8,470 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$66,820
25th percentile
$89,990
Median
$117,790
75th percentile
$150,550
90th percentile
$197,290
Workers surveyed
8,470
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$104,160
May 2025 release
$117,790
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Materials Scientists (SOC 19-2032) rather than Materials Scientist specifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 19-2032Highest Paying
$141,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$109,000
Kansas City, MO
Lowest Paying
$83,000
Little Rock, AR
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated September 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 19-2032. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Materials Scientist salary in the United States at $104,000 in 2026, within a range of $80,000 to $134,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $141,000, while Kansas City offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Industry sector and degree level create the widest pay gaps.
Materials Scientist salary by city.
Skills that increase Materials Scientist pay.
The premiums below are Orbyt's modelled scenarios for Materials Scientists, not effects measured from job postings: each is a fixed percentage applied to the estimated base. At the top premium that works out to $14,560 a year.
≈ +$14,560 per year
≈ +$13,520 per year
≈ +$12,480 per year
≈ +$11,440 per year
≈ +$11,440 per year
≈ +$10,400 per year
≈ +$10,400 per year
≈ +$9,360 per year
What you should know.
Industry sector and degree level create the widest pay gaps. PhD holders in semiconductor, battery, or advanced composites research earn 25 to 40% more than those with bachelor's degrees. National lab and defense roles add clearance premiums. Expertise in characterization techniques like electron microscopy and spectroscopy boosts marketability.
Entry-level materials scientists start at $76,000 to $88,000 with a master's degree. Senior scientists earn $98,000 to $128,000 after five to eight years. Research directors and principal scientists reach $135,000 to $180,000, with fellows at top labs exceeding $200,000.
Corporate R&D labs offer bonuses of 8 to 15% and patent bonuses of $2,000 to $5,000 per filing. National labs provide federal benefits, pension contributions, and relocation packages. Semiconductor firms add equity grants worth $10,000 to $35,000 annually.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Materials Scientists typically earn $94,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Materials Scientist pay.
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