Materials Scientists
Materials Scientists (SOC 19-2032) earn a median $117,790 a year ($56.63 an hour) in the United States, with 8,470 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is California.
What materials scientists do
Materials scientists research the structure and chemical properties of natural, synthetic, and composite materials, including metals, alloys, rubber, ceramics, semiconductors, polymers, and glass. Their aim is to understand how a material behaves and to find ways to strengthen it, combine it with others, or create new materials with specific properties for products and processes. Typical tasks include researching the structures and properties of materials, testing samples under tension, compression, and shear to determine their tolerances, testing metals for conformance with specifications such as mechanical strength, and working out ways to strengthen or combine materials. The occupation differs from materials engineers, who apply that knowledge to manufacturing processes and product design, from chemists, whose scope covers substances more broadly, and from physicists, who study physical phenomena generally. They also plan laboratory experiments to confirm that production processes are feasible, recommend materials for reliable performance in different environments, and prepare reports, manuscripts, and proposals for other scientists.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported education level is a bachelor's degree.
Also called: Materials Scientist, Materials Research Engineer, Metal Alloy Scientist, Applications Scientist, Material Science Engineer.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $32.13 | $43.26 | $56.63 | $72.38 | $94.85 | $60.67 | 8,470 |
| Annual | $66,820 | $89,990 | $117,790 | $150,550 | $197,290 | $126,180 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where materials scientists earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $46.18 | $63.01 | $85.11 | $112.45 | $144.39 | $91.09 | 1,030 | 0.06 | 1.04 |
| Annual | $96,050 | $131,060 | $177,030 | $233,890 | $300,330 | $189,460 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $50.49 | $62.19 | $72.38 | $84.30 | $95.67 | $74.11 | 100 | 0.05 | 0.95 |
| Annual | $105,030 | $129,360 | $150,550 | $175,340 | $199,000 | $154,140 | ||||
| Wisconsin | Hourly | $35.41 | $47.19 | $66.20 | $74.30 | $77.23 | $61.57 | 70 | 0.03 | 0.47 |
| Annual | $73,650 | $98,160 | $137,700 | $154,540 | $160,640 | $128,070 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $63.84 | $65.16 | $66.16 | $66.16 | $77.74 | $67.81 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $132,790 | $135,540 | $137,600 | $137,610 | $161,700 | $141,040 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $46.30 | $49.95 | $63.75 | $70.00 | $80.96 | $64.12 | 890 | 0.25 | 4.50 |
| Annual | $96,310 | $103,890 | $132,600 | $145,600 | $168,390 | $133,360 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $46.18 | $63.01 | $85.11 | $112.45 | $144.39 | $91.09 | 1,030 | 0.06 | 1.04 |
| Annual | $96,050 | $131,060 | $177,030 | $233,890 | $300,330 | $189,460 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $46.30 | $49.95 | $63.75 | $70.00 | $80.96 | $64.12 | 890 | 0.25 | 4.50 |
| Annual | $96,310 | $103,890 | $132,600 | $145,600 | $168,390 | $133,360 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $42.25 | $51.30 | $63.34 | $80.60 | $98.47 | $66.44 | 530 | 0.05 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $87,880 | $106,710 | $131,740 | $167,640 | $204,830 | $138,200 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $31.60 | $41.15 | $51.19 | $64.17 | $77.82 | $53.22 | 490 | 0.10 | 1.84 |
| Annual | $65,720 | $85,580 | $106,470 | $133,480 | $161,870 | $110,700 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $26.26 | $43.17 | $52.32 | $66.41 | $76.50 | $53.19 | 450 | 0.08 | 1.47 |
| Annual | $54,620 | $89,790 | $108,830 | $138,120 | $159,130 | $110,640 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $69.87 | $79.77 | $111.50 | $147.89 | $148.41 | $108.55 | 180 | 0.16 | 2.95 |
| Annual | $145,330 | $165,930 | $231,920 | $307,610 | $308,680 | $225,780 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $64.80 | $79.84 | $111.40 | $144.29 | $144.39 | $108.63 | 380 | 0.16 | 2.97 |
| Annual | $134,780 | $166,060 | $231,710 | $300,120 | $300,330 | $225,960 | ||||
| Worcester, MA | Hourly | $47.06 | $69.04 | $72.63 | $79.70 | $83.37 | $72.37 | 80 | 0.24 | 4.34 |
| Annual | $97,870 | $143,610 | $151,070 | $165,770 | $173,410 | $150,530 | ||||
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Hourly | $47.36 | $58.45 | $72.38 | $84.30 | $95.68 | $72.96 | 90 | 0.07 | 1.32 |
| Annual | $98,510 | $121,570 | $150,550 | $175,340 | $199,000 | $151,750 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $46.09 | $57.46 | $72.11 | $87.72 | $112.45 | $74.45 | 200 | 0.03 | 0.59 |
| Annual | $95,870 | $119,510 | $149,980 | $182,460 | $233,890 | $154,850 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $46.30 | $49.95 | $63.75 | $70.00 | $81.41 | $63.89 | 700 | 0.26 | 4.74 |
| Annual | $96,310 | $103,890 | $132,600 | $145,600 | $169,330 | $132,890 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $38.20 | $39.96 | $58.00 | $65.97 | $86.19 | $59.48 | 560 | 0.06 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $79,450 | $83,120 | $120,650 | $137,210 | $179,270 | $123,720 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $44.83 | $50.17 | $64.10 | $83.71 | $95.15 | $67.48 | 460 | 0.10 | 1.88 |
| Annual | $93,240 | $104,350 | $133,340 | $174,110 | $197,910 | $140,350 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $64.80 | $79.84 | $111.40 | $144.29 | $144.39 | $108.63 | 380 | 0.16 | 2.97 |
| Annual | $134,780 | $166,060 | $231,710 | $300,120 | $300,330 | $225,960 | ||||
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Hourly | $40.15 | $48.82 | $63.54 | $66.02 | $82.79 | $60.02 | 270 | 0.14 | 2.58 |
| Annual | $83,510 | $101,540 | $132,160 | $137,320 | $172,190 | $124,850 | ||||
Top industries employing materials scientists
Scientific Research and Development Services employ 32.1% of materials scientists nationally (2,720 jobs) at a median $132,600 a year ($63.75 an hour), followed by Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (11.5%) and Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) (8.3%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific Research and Development Services NAICS 541700 | 2,720 | 32.1% | $132,600 | $63.75 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services NAICS 541300 | 970 | 11.5% | $98,540 | $47.38 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) NAICS 3250A1 | 700 | 8.3% | $108,840 | $52.33 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises NAICS 551100 | 590 | 7.0% | $130,330 | $62.66 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 580 | 6.8% | $76,980 | $37.01 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (8,470). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $100,090 for materials scientists in May 2021 and $117,790 in May 2025, with employment of 6,690 and 8,470.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $100,090 | $48.12 | 6,690 |
| May 2022 | $104,380 | $50.18 | 7,620 |
| May 2023 | $106,160 | $51.04 | 8,810 |
| May 2024 | $104,160 | $50.08 | 8,330 |
| May 2025 | $117,790 | $56.63 | 8,470 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
31 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California profile | $85.11 | $177,030 | $96,050 | $300,330 | 1,030 | 0.06 | 1.04 |
| 2 | Oregon profile | $72.38 | $150,550 | $105,030 | $199,000 | 100 | 0.05 | 0.95 |
| 3 | Wisconsin profile | $66.20 | $137,700 | $73,650 | $160,640 | 70 | 0.03 | 0.47 |
| 4 | District of Columbia profile | $66.16 | $137,600 | $132,790 | $161,700 | ** | ** | ** |
| 5 | Massachusetts profile | $63.75 | $132,600 | $96,310 | $168,390 | 890 | 0.25 | 4.50 |
| 6 | Minnesota profile | $63.54 | $132,160 | $83,500 | $172,500 | 290 | 0.10 | 1.79 |
| 7 | New York profile | $63.34 | $131,740 | $87,880 | $204,830 | 530 | 0.05 | 1.00 |
| 8 | Indiana profile | $62.76 | $130,540 | $53,660 | $197,910 | 320 | 0.10 | 1.82 |
| 9 | Connecticut profile | $62.65 | $130,320 | $72,440 | $201,790 | 50 | 0.03 | 0.57 |
| 10 | Washington profile | $61.18 | $127,250 | $76,390 | $209,800 | 290 | 0.08 | 1.47 |
| 11 | Utah profile | $60.98 | $126,840 | $67,360 | $175,440 | 110 | 0.06 | 1.13 |
| 12 | Illinois profile | $60.50 | $125,850 | $84,070 | $184,130 | 380 | 0.06 | 1.15 |
| 13 | Virginia profile | $59.69 | $124,150 | $63,820 | $184,840 | 100 | 0.03 | 0.47 |
| 14 | New Hampshire profile | $57.69 | $119,990 | $65,200 | $173,640 | 80 | 0.11 | 2.07 |
| 15 | Colorado profile | $56.39 | $117,290 | $76,820 | $160,770 | 370 | 0.13 | 2.35 |
| 16 | Kansas profile | $55.52 | $115,490 | $86,800 | $182,780 | 40 | 0.03 | 0.55 |
| 17 | Maryland profile | $54.04 | $112,400 | $69,990 | $165,670 | 270 | 0.10 | 1.77 |
| 18 | Ohio profile | $52.32 | $108,830 | $54,620 | $159,130 | 450 | 0.08 | 1.47 |
| 19 | Michigan profile | $51.64 | $107,410 | $54,240 | $167,940 | 230 | 0.05 | 0.97 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania profile | $51.41 | $106,920 | $68,850 | $159,170 | 100 | 0.02 | 0.31 |
| 21 | North Carolina profile | $51.19 | $106,470 | $65,720 | $161,870 | 490 | 0.10 | 1.84 |
| 22 | New Jersey profile | $49.59 | $103,150 | $79,450 | $139,550 | 440 | 0.10 | 1.90 |
| 23 | Florida profile | $49.20 | $102,340 | $77,270 | $155,070 | 200 | 0.02 | 0.36 |
| 24 | South Carolina profile | $49.01 | $101,930 | $70,060 | $137,490 | 80 | 0.04 | 0.65 |
| 25 | Nevada profile | $46.87 | $97,490 | $78,350 | $121,610 | 100 | 0.06 | 1.15 |
| 26 | Georgia profile | $44.22 | $91,970 | $63,820 | $154,600 | 350 | 0.07 | 1.31 |
| 27 | Iowa profile | $42.46 | $88,320 | $52,450 | $149,020 | 180 | 0.11 | 2.09 |
| 28 | Texas profile | $34.95 | $72,700 | $50,970 | $151,050 | 300 | 0.02 | 0.39 |
| 29 | Montana profile | $34.53 | $71,810 | $55,030 | $129,960 | 50 | 0.10 | 1.82 |
| 30 | Tennessee profile | $33.18 | $69,010 | $57,800 | $150,590 | 60 | 0.02 | 0.36 |
| – | Delaware profile | * | * | * | * | 90 | 0.19 | 3.42 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (19-2030), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 19-2032 Materials Scientists.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 19-2032, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 19-2032.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.