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.
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:ScienceReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingActive ListeningWriting
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Materials Scientist salary by industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
3,760 workers
$143,000
Sectors 31, 32, and 33 – Manufacturing
2,970 workers
$122,500
Management of Companies and Enterprises
590 workers
$129,000
Educational Services
580 workers
$90,000
State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
470 workers
$84,500
Wholesale Trade
260 workers
$118,500
Federal, State, and Local Government, excl. State & Local Schools & Hospitals & USPS
50 workers
$149,500
Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
30 workers
$133,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Materials Scientist pays 31% above the average across 48 roles in the Life, Physical, and Social Science job family (family average $100,000).
Similar-paying roles in Life, Physical, and Social Science
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 $100,000 across 48 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.
