The median pay for Materials Scientists is $117,790 a year ($56.63/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 8.3% through 2035, with about 600 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 19-2032
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Materials Scientist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $117,790a year, or $56.63/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $67KTop 10% $197K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +8.3%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+8.3%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +8.3% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 6008,600 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20258.6K
- Projected 20359.3K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 8.6K Projected 2035 9.3K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Associate's4.8%
- Bachelor's61.9%
- Post-bacc certificate4.8%
- Master's9.5%
- Doctorate14.3%
- Post-doctoral training4.8%
Highest education held by materials scientists Segment Value Associate's 4.8% Bachelor's 61.9% Post-bacc certificate 4.8% Master's 9.5% Doctorate 14.3% Post-doctoral training 4.8%
Also advertised as: Applications Scientist, Materials Research Engineer, Materials Scientist, Metallurgical Engineer, Micro Electrical/Mechanical Systems Device Scientist (MEMS Device Scientist), Polymer Materials Consultant.
Pay
How much do Materials Scientists make?
Every materials scientist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$117,790
Middle half earn $89,990 to $150,550
- 10th
- $66,820
- 25th
- $89,990
- 75th
- $150,550
- 90th
- $197,290
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $66,820 |
| 25th | $89,990 |
| Median | $117,790 |
| 75th | $150,550 |
| 90th | $197,290 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $117,790
- Median hourly wage
- $56.63/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $126,180
- People employed
- 8,470
Versus all US occupations
At $117,790, Materials Scientists earn 131% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $66,810 a year.
Versus life, physical, and social science occupations
Inside the Life, Physical, and Social Science group, where the middle occupation pays $82,220, this is 43% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $197,290 or more while the bottom 10% earn $66,820, a gap of 3.0×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 84% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
California pays the most at $177,030, and still leads at $159,890 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Materials Scientists the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $177,030 | $159,890 | 1,030 |
| 2Oregon | $150,550 | $145,655 | 100 |
| 3Wisconsin | $137,700 | $146,341 | 70 |
| 4District of Columbia | $137,600 | $125,204 | N/A |
| 5Massachusetts | $132,600 | $125,382 | 890 |
| 6Minnesota | $132,160 | $134,008 | 290 |
| 7New York | $131,740 | $122,071 | 530 |
| 8Indiana | $130,540 | $139,871 | 320 |
| 9Connecticut | $130,320 | $125,779 | 50 |
| 10Washington | $127,250 | $118,911 | 290 |
Job outlook
Is Materials Scientist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +8.3% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Materials Scientists | +8.3% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Materials Scientists to change 8.3% over 2025–2035, roughly 2.4× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 700 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 600 openings are projected each year, 7.0% of the 8,600 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of chemists and materials scientists is projected to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Demand for chemists and materials scientists is expected to stem from innovations in a variety of research areas, including nanotechnology and biomaterials.
Chemists will be needed to develop improved products and processes, such as new medicines and methods for ensuring food safety. Materials scientists will be needed to research and develop affordable, safe, high-quality materials for electronics, energy, transportation, and other uses.
Getting in
How to become a Materials Scientist
To enter the occupation, chemists and materials scientists typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in chemistry or a related field. However, they may need a master’s degree or Ph.D. for some jobs, such as research positions.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as materials scientists.
- Bachelor's Degree61.9%
- Doctoral Degree14.3%
- Master's Degree9.5%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree4.8%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate4.8%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 61.9% |
| Doctoral Degree | 14.3% |
| Master's Degree | 9.5% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 4.8% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 4.8% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Materials Scientist do?
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.
Chemists and materials scientists research and analyze the chemical properties of substances to develop new materials, products, or knowledge.
Day-to-day tasks
- 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.
- Prepare reports, manuscripts, proposals, and technical manuals for use by other scientists and requestors, such as sponsors and customers.
- Recommend materials for reliable performance in various environments.
- Devise testing methods to evaluate the effects of various conditions on particular materials.
- Write research papers for publication in scientific journals.
- 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.
- Plan laboratory experiments to confirm feasibility of processes and techniques used in the production of materials with special characteristics.
- Visit suppliers of materials or users of products to gather specific information.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most chemists and materials scientists work full time. Occasionally, they may have to work additional hours to meet project deadlines or perform time-sensitive laboratory experiments during off-hours.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where materials scientists work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Chemical manufacturing33%
- Scientific research and development services16%
- Testing laboratories and services11%
- Federal government, excluding postal service6%
- State and local government, excluding education and hospitals6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Chemical manufacturing | 33% |
| Scientific research and development services | 16% |
| Testing laboratories and services | 11% |
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 6% |
| State and local government, excluding education and hospitals | 6% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Science4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Writing3.9
- Speaking3.8
- Active Learning3.8
- Mathematics3.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Science | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Writing | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.8 |
| Active Learning | 3.8 |
| Mathematics | 3.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving4.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6
- Persuasion3.1
- Operations Analysis3.1
- Systems Evaluation3.1
- Social Perceptiveness3.0
- Coordination3.0
- Systems Analysis3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 |
| Persuasion | 3.1 |
| Operations Analysis | 3.1 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web platform development software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software
- Development environment software
- Electronic mail software
- Internet browser software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Materials Scientist?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Materials Scientist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 7 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Investigative6.6
- Realistic5.8
- Conventional4.2
- Artistic2.2
- Enterprising1.9
- Social1.4
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Materials Scientist
O*NET related occupations
- Architecture and Engineering
- Architecture and Engineering
- Architecture and Engineering
- Architecture and Engineering
- Architecture and Engineering
- Architecture and Engineering
More life, physical, and social science careers
Median annual pay, with materials scientists highlighted
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$193,950
- Physicist$172,250
- Materials Scientist$117,790
- Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
- Chemist$91,240
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health$82,220
- Conservation Scientist$73,010
- Chemical Technician$60,390
- Biological Technician$57,510
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 |
| Physicist | $172,250 |
| Materials Scientist | $117,790 |
| Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 |
| Chemist | $91,240 |
| Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health | $82,220 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,390 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Materials Scientist appears on
Questions
Materials Scientist: frequently asked questions
How much do Materials Scientists make?
Materials Scientists earn a median of $117,790 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 131% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $56.63/hr. The middle half earn between $89,990 and $150,550. The top 10% earn $197,290 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Materials Scientist?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Materials Scientists, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 61.9% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Materials Scientist a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 8.3% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 600 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Materials Scientist do?
Chemists and materials scientists research and analyze the chemical properties of substances to develop new materials, products, or knowledge. A core O*NET task: 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. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Object or component oriented development software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Materials Scientists the most?
The highest state medians for Materials Scientists are California ($177,030), Oregon ($150,550), Wisconsin ($137,700) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Materials Scientist?
O*NET scores Materials Scientists highest on the Investigative, Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are INTJ, ISTP, ISTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.