Materials Scientists Salary
The median pay for a materials scientists in Greensboro-High Point, NC is $106,470/year ($51.19/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $77K at the entry level to $162K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.86), which stretches that salary to about $114,656 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,330/month, or 19.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $106K get you in Greensboro-High Point?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Greensboro-High Point’s Regional Price Parity (92.86). 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 Greensboro-High Point
Materials scientists pay in Greensboro-High Point tracks closely to the national median, $106K locally vs. $118K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,330/month, 20.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for materials scientists in metros near Greensboro-High Point, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $123K | $126K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $102K | $105K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $93K | $93K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Greensboro-High Point, NC
Entry-level materials scientists (10th percentile) start around $77K. Mid-career wages sit at $106K. Top earners bring in $162K or more, a $85K 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 Greensboro-High Point numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a materials scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Greensboro-High Point?
Yes — at the median salary of $106K, rent takes 20.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,330/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for materials scientists in Greensboro-High Point?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials scientists typically earn — is $77K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,631/month. At HUD’s $1,330/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is materials scientist a high-paying job in Greensboro-High Point?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $106K locally vs. $118K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Greensboro-High Point compare to the national average for materials scientists?
Greensboro-High Point pays $106K median vs. the U.S. average of $118K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $115K — below the national median.
How much do materials scientists make in Greensboro-High Point, NC?
The median is $106,470 a year, that works out to about $51 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $77,180, and experienced materials scientists can clear $162,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $106K enough to live in Greensboro-High Point?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,541/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,330/month, which eats 20.3% 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 Greensboro-High Point?
Greensboro-High Point has a Regional Price Parity of 92.86 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median materials scientists salary is worth about $114,656 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.