Materials Scientists Salary
BLS May 2025 median wages — with computed take-home after taxes for all 30 reporting states. Tax year 2026.
Quick answer
According to payandtaxes.com's analysis of BLS May 2025 data, the median materials scientists in the US earns $117,790 per year (8,470 employed). Gross pay is highest in California ($177,030) and lowest in Tennessee ($69,010) — but what you keep depends on the state's taxes; see the table.
Materials Scientists pay by stategross median vs take-home
| State | Median wage | After taxes | Monthly net | Kept | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials Scientists in California | $177,030 | $120,032 | $10,003 | 67.8% | 1,030 |
| Materials Scientists in Oregon | $150,550 | $101,563 | $8,464 | 67.5% | 100 |
| Materials Scientists in Wisconsin | $137,700 | $99,467 | $8,289 | 72.2% | 70 |
| Materials Scientists in Washington DC | $137,600 | $96,588 | $8,049 | 70.2% | — |
| Materials Scientists in Massachusetts | $132,600 | $95,488 | $7,957 | 72% | 890 |
| Materials Scientists in Minnesota | $132,160 | $94,056 | $7,838 | 71.2% | 290 |
| Materials Scientists in New York | $131,740 | $94,578 | $7,882 | 71.8% | 530 |
| Materials Scientists in Indiana | $130,540 | $96,669 | $8,056 | 74.1% | 320 |
| Materials Scientists in Connecticut | $130,320 | $94,671 | $7,889 | 72.6% | 50 |
| Materials Scientists in Washington | $127,250 | $98,242 | $8,187 | 77.2% | 290 |
| Materials Scientists in Utah | $126,840 | $92,253 | $7,688 | 72.7% | 110 |
| Materials Scientists in Illinois | $125,850 | $91,200 | $7,600 | 72.5% | 380 |
| Materials Scientists in Virginia | $124,150 | $89,798 | $7,483 | 72.3% | 100 |
| Materials Scientists in New Hampshire | $119,990 | $93,243 | $7,770 | 77.7% | 80 |
| Materials Scientists in Colorado | $117,290 | $86,891 | $7,241 | 74.1% | 370 |
| Materials Scientists in Kansas | $115,490 | $84,433 | $7,036 | 73.1% | 40 |
| Materials Scientists in Maryland | $112,400 | $82,914 | $6,909 | 73.8% | 270 |
| Materials Scientists in Ohio | $108,830 | $83,182 | $6,932 | 76.4% | 450 |
| Materials Scientists in Michigan | $107,410 | $80,079 | $6,673 | 74.6% | 230 |
| Materials Scientists in Pennsylvania | $106,920 | $80,766 | $6,730 | 75.5% | 100 |
| Materials Scientists in North Carolina | $106,470 | $79,992 | $6,666 | 75.1% | 490 |
| Materials Scientists in New Jersey | $103,150 | $77,014 | $6,418 | 74.7% | 440 |
| Materials Scientists in Florida | $102,340 | $80,826 | $6,736 | 79% | 200 |
| Materials Scientists in South Carolina | $101,930 | $75,579 | $6,298 | 74.1% | 80 |
| Materials Scientists in Nevada | $97,490 | $77,414 | $6,451 | 79.4% | 100 |
| Materials Scientists in Georgia | $91,970 | $69,381 | $5,782 | 75.4% | 350 |
| Materials Scientists in Iowa | $88,320 | $68,259 | $5,688 | 77.3% | 180 |
| Materials Scientists in Texas | $72,700 | $59,975 | $4,998 | 82.5% | 300 |
| Materials Scientists in Montana | $71,810 | $56,652 | $4,721 | 78.9% | 50 |
| Materials Scientists in Tennessee | $69,010 | $57,379 | $4,782 | 83.1% | 60 |
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