Materials Scientists Salary
The median pay for a materials scientists in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO is $106,720/year ($51.31/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $69K at the entry level to $182K for experienced workers.
So what does $107K get you in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
About materials scientists
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Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for materials scientists in metros near Denver-Aurora-Centennial, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $127K | , |
| 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, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Entry-level materials scientists (10th percentile) start around $69K. Mid-career wages sit at $107K. Top earners bring in $182K or more, a $113K 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a materials scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $107K, rent takes 31.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,044/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for materials scientists in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials scientists typically earn — is $69K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,148/month.
Is materials scientist a high-paying job in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $107K locally vs. $118K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Denver-Aurora-Centennial compare to the national average for materials scientists?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial pays $107K median vs. the U.S. average of $118K — that’s -9%.
How much do materials scientists make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median is $106,720 a year, that works out to about $51 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $69,140, and experienced materials scientists can clear $182,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $107K enough to live in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,564/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,044/month, which eats 31.1% 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial 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 $106,720 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.