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The national median salary for Materials Scientists is $117,790 per year ($56.63/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $89,981 and $150,550 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $197,288 per year. There are approximately 8,470 materials scientists employed in the United States.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
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.
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+4.9%
Faster than average
Annual openings
600
per year, on avg
Workforce today
9K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
7% from new growth93% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Scientific Research and Development Services
NAICS 541700
3K
$132,600
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
NAICS 541300
970
$98,540
Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only)
NAICS 3250A1
700
$108,840
Management of Companies and Enterprises
NAICS 551100
590
$130,330
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
NAICS 611300
580
$76,980
Wage range across top 5 industries: $76,980 to $132,600 (72% spread)
Wage Percentiles
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
P10
$32.13
$66,830
P25
$43.26
$89,981
P50MEDIAN
$56.63
$117,790
P75
$72.38
$150,550
P90
$94.85
$197,288
Market Context Signal
JOLTS · professional sector
Cooling
Openings Rate
4.2%
Quits Rate
2.0%
Professional & Business Services openings tumbled 318K in March -- the largest single-sector drop in this release. Openings rate fell from 5.5% to 4.2%. Layoffs jumped to 527K (+99K). White-collar demand has cooled abruptly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average materials scientists salary?
The national median salary for Materials Scientists is $117,790 per year ($56.63/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $89,981 and $150,550 annually.
How much do top-earning materials scientists make?
The 90th percentile salary for Materials Scientists is $197,288 per year ($94.85/hr). The 75th percentile is $150,550 per year.
What is the entry-level salary for materials scientists?
Entry-level Materials Scientists (10th percentile) earn approximately $66,830 per year ($32.13/hr). The 25th percentile is $89,981 per year.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
CompSignal is a free labor market intelligence tool built for HR, compensation, and talent acquisition teams. We make BLS data, the same primary source Mercer and Radford cross-reference in their paid surveys, searchable and actionable without an enterprise subscription.
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