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Materials scientist: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $66,820lowest 10% earn less
- $89,99025th percentile
- $117,790median
- $150,55075th percentile
- $197,290top 10% earn more
Materials scientists earned a median of $117,790 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 8.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].
How much do materials scientists make?
The median wage for materials scientists was $117,790 a year, or $56.63 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $126,180 a year, or $60.67 an hour[8]. For all occupations, the median was $50,980 a year[5].
Pay varies a lot across the range. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $66,820 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $197,290[4]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages rather than a starting salary[9].
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th[4][10] | $66,820 | $32.13 |
| 25th[4][10] | $89,990 | $43.26 |
| Median[1] | $117,790 | $56.63 |
| 75th[4][10] | $150,550 | $72.38 |
| 90th[4][10] | $197,290 | $94.85 |
These figures cover wage and salary workers, part time and full time. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses that are not tied to production, and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[11]. About 8,470 people held these jobs[12].
Pay by state and city
Among the 29 states and DC with published data, California had the highest median at $177,030, followed by Oregon at $150,550 and Wisconsin at $137,700[13]. Texas had a median of $72,700[13].
California also had the most jobs (1,030), followed by Massachusetts (890), New York (530), North Carolina (490) and Ohio (450)[14].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, the highest medians were in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($231,920) and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($231,710)[15]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA came next at $149,980[15]. The metro areas with the most jobs were Boston-Cambridge-Newton (700), New York-Newark-Jersey City (560) and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (460)[16].
Show median pay in 29 states and DC
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| California[13] | $177,030 | 1,030 |
| Oregon | $150,550 | 100 |
| Wisconsin | $137,700 | 70 |
| District of Columbia | $137,600 | n/a |
| 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 |
| Utah | $126,840 | 110 |
| Illinois | $125,850 | 380 |
| Virginia | $124,150 | 100 |
| New Hampshire | $119,990 | 80 |
| Colorado | $117,290 | 370 |
| Kansas | $115,490 | 40 |
| Maryland | $112,400 | 270 |
| Ohio | $108,830 | 450 |
| Michigan | $107,410 | 230 |
| Pennsylvania | $106,920 | 100 |
| North Carolina | $106,470 | 490 |
| New Jersey | $103,150 | 440 |
| Florida | $102,340 | 200 |
| South Carolina | $101,930 | 80 |
| Nevada | $97,490 | 100 |
| Georgia | $91,970 | 350 |
| Iowa | $88,320 | 180 |
| Texas | $72,700 | 300 |
| Montana | $71,810 | 50 |
| Tennessee | $69,010 | 60 |
How to become a materials scientist
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical education for entry. It lists no work experience in a related occupation and no on-the-job training as typical[7]. The training details below come from a BLS profile that covers chemists and materials scientists together[17].
- First: earn a bachelor's degree. The profile points to chemistry or a related physical science field[18][19]. Some chemistry programs offer a materials science specialization, and some engineering programs offer a joint degree in materials science and engineering[20].
- Next: consider more school for some jobs. Research positions may call for a master's degree or Ph.D.[18]. Combined bachelor's and master's programs exist in chemistry[21].
- Then: build lab experience. Internships, fellowships or cooperative programs in industry are useful[22]. Employers may also train new hires on their own lab equipment[23].
In an ONET survey of 21 workers, 62% said a bachelor's degree is required, 14% said a doctoral degree and 10% said a master's degree[24]. ONET places the job in Job Zone Four, which means considerable preparation is needed[25].
What materials scientists do
Materials scientists study the structure and chemical properties of natural and synthetic materials, such as metals, alloys, ceramics, polymers and glass[26]. Typical tasks include:
- Researching how materials are built and how they behave, to help make new products or improve existing ones[27].
- Testing metals for strength, ductility, and resistance to wear, rust, heat and cold[27].
- Testing samples under tension, compression and shear to find why metals fail[27].
- Developing ways to strengthen or combine materials, or to create new ones[27].
- Planning lab experiments and running computer models[27].
- Recommending materials that will hold up in different settings[27].
- Writing reports and proposals for other scientists, sponsors and customers[27].
Job titles reported by workers include applications scientist, materials research engineer and research scientist[28].
Where they work
Chemists and materials scientists mostly work in laboratories and offices, and some work in industrial manufacturing facilities[29]. Firms doing research and development in physical science, engineering and life science were the largest employer group, at 31% in 2025[30]. Those at manufacturing companies with several facilities may travel now and then[31].
Workers may face hazards when handling certain chemicals, so they wear protective gear and follow safety procedures[32]. Most work full time, with extra hours sometimes needed for deadlines or time-sensitive experiments[33].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of materials scientists to grow 8.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 8,600 to 9,300 jobs[2]. These counts include self-employed workers[2]. For all occupations, projected growth is 3.5%[3].
About 600 openings are projected each year on average[6]. Openings come from new jobs and also from workers who retire or move to other occupations[6]. Each year, 1.4% of workers leave the labor force and 4.7% move to a different occupation[34].
Is it a good fit?
The pay is well above the all-occupations median, and the projected growth is faster than average[1][5][2][3]. The field is small, with about 8,470 wage and salary jobs, and pay differs a great deal by place[12][13]. A bachelor's degree is the typical entry level, but some research jobs may call for a master's degree or Ph.D.[7][18]. People who like lab work, testing and analysis may find the tasks a match[27][35].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a materials scientist make an hour?
- The median wage was $56.63 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $60.67[1][8].
- What degree do you need to be a materials scientist?
- BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education[7]. Some research jobs may call for a master's degree or Ph.D.[18].
- Is materials scientist a growing field?
- BLS projects 8.3% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].
- What is the highest paying state for materials scientists?
- California, with a median of $177,030 a year[13].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Materials Scientists in the US was $117,790 per year and $56.63 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Materials Scientists is projected to grow 8.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 8,600 to 9,300 jobs (a change of +700). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Materials Scientists: 10th percentile $66,820, 25th percentile $89,990, 75th percentile $150,550, 90th percentile $197,290. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 600 openings for Materials Scientists are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Materials Scientists: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Materials Scientists was $126,180 per year and $60.67 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Materials Scientists: 10th percentile $32.13, 25th percentile $43.26, 75th percentile $72.38, 90th percentile $94.85. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 8,470 people were employed as Materials Scientists in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Materials Scientists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Materials Scientists jobs: California 1,030; Massachusetts 890; New York 530; North Carolina 490; Ohio 450. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Materials Scientists (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $231,920; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $231,710; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $149,980; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $133,340; Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $132,650; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $132,600; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $132,160; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $127,490. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Materials Scientists jobs: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 700 (median $132,600); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 560 (median $120,650); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 460 (median $133,340); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 380 (median $231,710); Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 270 (median $132,160); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 240 (median $93,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Chemists and Materials Scientists" covers Materials Scientists together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET 19-2032.00 survey of workers (21 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 62%, Doctoral Degree 14%, Master's Degree 10% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 19-2032.00: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Materials Scientists. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Materials Scientists. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 19-2032.00 sample job titles reported by workers: 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. O*NET OnLine
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of chemists and materials scientists in 2025: Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences 31%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Materials Scientists: 1.4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.7% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.