Materials Scientists Salary
The median pay for a materials scientists in Boulder, CO is $126,880/year ($61/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $83K at the entry level to $172K for experienced workers.
So what does $127K get you in Boulder?
About materials scientists
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Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for materials scientists in metros near Boulder, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $107K | , |
| Salt Lake City-Murray | $101K | $100K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boulder, CO
Entry-level materials scientists (10th percentile) start around $83K. Mid-career wages sit at $127K. Top earners bring in $172K or more, a $89K 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
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 Boulder numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a materials scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Boulder?
Yes — at the median salary of $127K, rent takes 26.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,044/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for materials scientists in Boulder?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials scientists typically earn — is $83K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,978/month.
Is materials scientist a high-paying job in Boulder?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $127K locally vs. $118K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Boulder compare to the national average for materials scientists?
Boulder pays $127K median vs. the U.S. average of $118K — that’s +8%.
How much do materials scientists make in Boulder, CO?
The median is $126,880 a year, that works out to about $61 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $82,960, and experienced materials scientists can clear $171,900. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $127K enough to live in Boulder?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,658/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,044/month, which eats 26.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a materials scientists salary go in Boulder?
Boulder has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median materials scientists salary is worth about $126,880 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.