Materials Scientists Salary
The median pay for a materials scientists in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX is $82,080/year ($39.46/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $177K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.09), that's roughly $79,620 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,931/month, about 35.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $82K get you in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington’s Regional Price Parity (103.09). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington
Pay for materials scientists in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington runs about 30% below the U.S. median of $118K. Rent runs $1,931/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 35% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 103.09) 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 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $75K | $76K |
| College Station-Bryan | $63K | $70K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
Entry-level materials scientists (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $177K or more, a $116K 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 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a materials scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 35% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,931/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 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials scientists typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,670/month. At HUD’s $1,931/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington?
Local pay runs 30% below the national median — $82K here vs. $118K nationally.
How does Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington compare to the national average for materials scientists?
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $118K — that’s -30%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — below the national median.
How much do materials scientists make in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX?
The median is $82,080 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,170, and experienced materials scientists can clear $177,200. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,511/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,931/month, which eats 35% 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 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington?
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington has a Regional Price Parity of 103.09 (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 $79,620 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.