Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET
Average base salary, North Carolina
$114,500 / year
≈ $9,550 per month · $55.05 per hour
BLS May 2025 state data for North Carolina · median $110,000
25th percentile
$88,500Average
$114,50075th percentile
$138,000
$88,500Average
$114,50075th percentile
$138,000
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Materials Scientist salary by state
California$196,000
Colorado$122,500
Connecticut$133,000
District of Columbia$146,000
Florida$112,500
Georgia$103,500
Illinois$134,500
Indiana$131,500
Iowa$102,500
Kansas$122,500
Maryland$117,500
Massachusetts$138,000
Michigan$122,000
Minnesota$129,500
Montana$78,500
Nevada$100,500
New Hampshire$130,500
New Jersey$111,500
New York$143,000
North Carolina$114,500
Ohio$114,500
Oregon$159,500
Pennsylvania$111,000
South Carolina$109,500
Tennessee$84,000
Texas$93,500
Utah$131,000
Virginia$129,500
Washington$144,000
Wisconsin$132,500
About this role
Materials Scientist is a professional role within the function in the Life, Physical, and Social Science job family.
Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Materials Scientists do
Typical education: Bachelor's Degree
- Conduct research on the structures and properties of materials, such as metals, alloys, polymers, and ceramics, to obtain information that could be used to develop new products or enhance existing ones.
- Test metals to determine conformance to specifications of mechanical strength, strength-weight ratio, ductility, magnetic and electrical properties, and resistance to abrasion, corrosion, heat, and cold.
- Test material samples for tolerance under tension, compression, and shear to determine the cause of metal failures.
- 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.
- Prepare reports, manuscripts, proposals, and technical manuals for use by other scientists and requestors, such as sponsors and customers.
Top skills: Science Reading Comprehension Critical Thinking Complex Problem Solving Active Listening Writing
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Materials Scientist pay by experience level
Entry level$69,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$93,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$122,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$156,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$204,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+4.9%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
600
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Materials Scientist salary by industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
3,760 workers
$143,000Scientific Research and Development Services
2,720 workers
$154,000Chemical Manufacturing
990 workers
$116,500Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
970 workers
$113,000Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only)
700 workers
$119,000Management of Companies and Enterprises
590 workers
$129,000Management of Companies and Enterprises
590 workers
$129,000Educational Services
580 workers
$90,000Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
580 workers
$90,000Primary Metal Manufacturing
470 workers
$111,500National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Materials Scientist pays 30% above the average across 66 roles in the Life, Physical, and Social Science job family (family average $100,500).
Similar-paying roles in Life, Physical, and Social Science
Physical Scientists, All Other$133,500
Biochemists and Biophysicists$134,500
Astronomer$137,500
Sociologist$119,000
Clinical Neuropsychologist$115,000
Economist$147,000
Political Scientist$147,500
Careers related to Materials Scientist
Materials Engineer$124,500
Robotics Engineer$129,500
Chemical Engineer$134,500
Fuel Cell Engineer$117,500
Chemist$104,000
Industrial Engineer$113,500
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Materials Scientist make?
The average base salary for a Materials Scientist in the United States is $130,500 per year, or about $62.74 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $93,000 and $156,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Life, Physical, and Social Science roles?
The Life, Physical, and Social Science job family averages $100,500 across 66 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
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