Materials Scientists Salary
The median pay for a materials scientists in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD is $92,390/year ($44.42/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $161K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.49), that's roughly $88,420 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,857/month, about 32% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $92K get you in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Baltimore-Columbia-Towson’s Regional Price Parity (104.49). 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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
Pay for materials scientists in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $118K. Rent runs $1,857/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 104.49) 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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $127K | $124K |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $127K | $117K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Entry-level materials scientists (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $92K. Top earners bring in $161K or more, a $95K 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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a materials scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $92K, rent takes 32.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,857/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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials scientists typically earn — is $66K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,958/month. At HUD’s $1,857/month FMR, rent would take 47% 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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $92K here vs. $118K nationally.
How does Baltimore-Columbia-Towson compare to the national average for materials scientists?
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson pays $92K median vs. the U.S. average of $118K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $88K — below the national median.
How much do materials scientists make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median is $92,390 a year, that works out to about $44 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,970, and experienced materials scientists can clear $160,560. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $92K enough to live in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,764/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,857/month, which eats 32.2% 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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson has a Regional Price Parity of 104.49 (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 $88,420 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.