Materials Scientists Salary
The median pay for a materials scientists in California is $177,030/year ($85.11/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $96K at the entry level to $300K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $166,789 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,471/month, or 23.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $177K get you in California?
About materials scientists
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for materials scientists, local pay runs about 50% higher than the U.S. median of $118K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,471/month, 24.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Combined with manageable housing costs, California offers a genuinely strong financial position for materials scientistss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level materials scientists (10th percentile) start around $96K. Mid-career wages sit at $177K. Top earners bring in $300K or more, a $204K spread from bottom to top.
Materials Scientists salary by metro in California
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $232K | +31% | 180 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $232K | +31% | 380 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $150K | -15% | 200 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $129K | -27% | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $96K | -46% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track materials scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a materials scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
Yes — at the median salary of $177K, rent takes 24.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for materials scientists in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials scientists typically earn — is $96K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,763/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 California?
Local pay is 50% above the national median — $177K here vs. $118K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for materials scientists?
California pays $177K median vs. the U.S. average of $118K — that’s +50%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $167K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do materials scientists make in California?
The median is $177,030 a year, that works out to about $85 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $96,050, and experienced materials scientists can clear $300,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $177K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,934/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 24.9% 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 California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (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 $166,789 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.