Materials Scientists Salary
The median pay for a materials scientists in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA is $93,240/year ($44.83/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $156K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.06), that's roughly $93,184 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,820/month, about 30.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $93K get you in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell’s Regional Price Parity (100.06). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About materials scientists
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What this looks like in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell
Pay for materials scientists in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $118K. Rent runs $1,820/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 100.06) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for materials scientists in metros near Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $123K | $126K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $102K | $105K |
| Greensboro-High Point | $106K | $115K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
Entry-level materials scientists (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $93K. Top earners bring in $156K or more, a $92K spread from bottom to top.
Materials Scientists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Materials Scientists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $177K | +50% | 1,030 |
| Oregon | $151K | +28% | 100 |
| Wisconsin | $138K | +17% | 70 |
| District of Columbia | $138K | +17% | N/A |
| Massachusetts | $133K | +13% | 890 |
| Minnesota | $132K | +12% | 290 |
| New York | $132K | +12% | 530 |
| Indiana | $131K | +11% | 320 |
| Connecticut | $130K | +11% | 50 |
| Washington | $127K | +8% | 290 |
| Utah | $127K | +8% | 110 |
| Illinois | $126K | +7% | 380 |
| Virginia | $124K | +5% | 100 |
| New Hampshire | $120K | +2% | 80 |
| Colorado | $117K | -0% | 370 |
| Kansas | $115K | -2% | 40 |
| Maryland | $112K | -5% | 270 |
| Ohio | $109K | -8% | 450 |
| Michigan | $107K | -9% | 230 |
| Pennsylvania | $107K | -9% | 100 |
| North Carolina | $106K | -10% | 490 |
| New Jersey | $103K | -12% | 440 |
| Florida | $102K | -13% | 200 |
| South Carolina | $102K | -13% | 80 |
| Nevada | $97K | -17% | 100 |
| Georgia | $92K | -22% | 350 |
| Iowa | $88K | -25% | 180 |
| Texas | $73K | -38% | 300 |
| Montana | $72K | -39% | 50 |
| Tennessee | $69K | -41% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 30 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track materials scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a materials scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $93K, rent takes 31.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,820/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for materials scientists in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials scientists typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,829/month. At HUD’s $1,820/month FMR, rent would take 48% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is materials scientist a high-paying job in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $93K here vs. $118K nationally.
How does Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell compare to the national average for materials scientists?
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell pays $93K median vs. the U.S. average of $118K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — below the national median.
How much do materials scientists make in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA?
The median is $93,240 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,820, and experienced materials scientists can clear $155,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $93K enough to live in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,776/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,820/month, which eats 31.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a materials scientists salary go in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell has a Regional Price Parity of 100.06 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median materials scientists salary is worth about $93,184 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do materials scientists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.