Materials Scientists Salary in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
The median pay for a materials scientists in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX is $79,900/year ($38.41/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $56K at the entry level to $138K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.63), that's roughly $81,010 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,573/month, or 28.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $80K get you in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands’s Regional Price Parity (98.63). 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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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Entry-level materials scientists (10th percentile) start around $56K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $138K or more, a $82K spread from bottom to top.
Materials Scientists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $136K | +31% | 80 |
| California | $132K | +26% | 610 |
| New York | $125K | +20% | 630 |
| Florida | $123K | +18% | 100 |
| Wisconsin | $121K | +16% | 140 |
| Illinois | $120K | +16% | 470 |
| Virginia | $119K | +14% | 160 |
| Utah | $119K | +14% | 80 |
| Massachusetts | $118K | +14% | 720 |
| Oklahoma | $116K | +11% | 60 |
| Minnesota | $114K | +10% | 360 |
| Washington | $110K | +6% | 290 |
| Maryland | $106K | +2% | 200 |
| Oregon | $104K | -0% | 180 |
| Pennsylvania | $103K | -1% | 290 |
| Ohio | $102K | -2% | 670 |
| Kansas | $98K | -6% | 30 |
| Delaware | $98K | -6% | 100 |
| Iowa | $96K | -8% | 170 |
| Indiana | $95K | -9% | 40 |
| North Carolina | $95K | -9% | 370 |
| Michigan | $93K | -10% | 170 |
| South Carolina | $88K | -16% | 60 |
| Nevada | $86K | -17% | 70 |
| Maine | $83K | -20% | 50 |
| New Jersey | $83K | -20% | 630 |
| Georgia | $81K | -22% | 250 |
| Texas | $81K | -23% | 380 |
| Montana | $57K | -46% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 29 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do materials scientists make in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
The median is $79,900 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $56,170, and experienced materials scientists can clear $137,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,383/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,573/month, which eats 29.2% 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands?
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands has a Regional Price Parity of 98.63 (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 $81,010 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.