SalariesWhat the occupation covers
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.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 19-2032.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $66,820 | $5,568 | $1,285 | $32.13 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $89,990 | $7,499 | $1,731 | $43.26 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $117,790 | $9,816 | $2,265 | $56.63 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $150,550 | $12,546 | $2,895 | $72.38 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $197,290 | $16,441 | $3,794 | $94.85 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Materials Scientists is $117,790, which is 131% higher. Among the 48 occupations of the field Life, Physical, and Social Science, it ranks number 8 by median pay. With 8,470 jobs, it makes up about 0.5 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Materials Scientists pay by state
The highest median pay was in California ($177,030), Oregon ($150,550) and Wisconsin ($137,700). The lowest was in Tennessee ($69,010), Montana ($71,810) and Texas ($72,700). The most jobs were in California (1,030), Massachusetts (890) and New York (530). The occupation is most concentrated in Massachusetts, where its share of all jobs is 4.5 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1,030 | $177,030 | $189,460 | $85.11 |
| Oregon | 100 | $150,550 | $154,140 | $72.38 |
| Wisconsin | 70 | $137,700 | $128,070 | $66.20 |
| District of Columbia | not published | $137,600 | $141,040 | $66.16 |
| Massachusetts | 890 | $132,600 | $133,360 | $63.75 |
| Minnesota | 290 | $132,160 | $125,000 | $63.54 |
| New York | 530 | $131,740 | $138,200 | $63.34 |
| Indiana | 320 | $130,540 | $127,210 | $62.76 |
| Connecticut | 50 | $130,320 | $128,460 | $62.65 |
| Washington | 290 | $127,250 | $139,140 | $61.18 |
| Utah | 110 | $126,840 | $126,590 | $60.98 |
| Illinois | 380 | $125,850 | $129,980 | $60.50 |
| Virginia | 100 | $124,150 | $124,880 | $59.69 |
| New Hampshire | 80 | $119,990 | $126,200 | $57.69 |
| Colorado | 370 | $117,290 | $118,330 | $56.39 |
| Kansas | 40 | $115,490 | $118,360 | $55.52 |
| Maryland | 270 | $112,400 | $113,450 | $54.04 |
| Ohio | 450 | $108,830 | $110,640 | $52.32 |
| Michigan | 230 | $107,410 | $117,800 | $51.64 |
| Pennsylvania | 100 | $106,920 | $107,370 | $51.41 |
| North Carolina | 490 | $106,470 | $110,700 | $51.19 |
| New Jersey | 440 | $103,150 | $107,960 | $49.59 |
| Florida | 200 | $102,340 | $108,590 | $49.20 |
| South Carolina | 80 | $101,930 | $105,730 | $49.01 |
| Nevada | 100 | $97,490 | $96,880 | $46.87 |
| Georgia | 350 | $91,970 | $99,800 | $44.22 |
| Iowa | 180 | $88,320 | $99,050 | $42.46 |
| Texas | 300 | $72,700 | $90,480 | $34.95 |
| Montana | 50 | $71,810 | $75,610 | $34.53 |
| Tennessee | 60 | $69,010 | $81,300 | $33.18 |
| Delaware | 90 | not published | not published | not published |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Biochemists and Biophysicists$127,410 a year
- Economists$124,720 a year
- Physical Scientists, All Other$122,570 a year
- Psychologists, All Other$110,840 a year
- Nuclear Technicians$110,240 a year
- Sociologists$106,030 a year
Common questions
How much do Materials Scientists earn in the United States?
The median pay was $117,790 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $66,820 and the highest-paid 10% more than $197,290.
How many people work as Materials Scientists?
About 8,470 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.