Materials Scientists Salary
The median pay for a materials scientists in Indiana is $130,540/year ($62.76/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $198K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $142,185 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,144/month, or 14.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Indiana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $131K get you in Indiana?
About materials scientists
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What this looks like in Indiana
Indiana sits well above the national pay line for materials scientists, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $118K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,144/month, 14.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Indiana offers a genuinely strong financial position for materials scientistss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Indiana
Entry-level materials scientists (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $131K. Top earners bring in $198K or more, a $144K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track materials scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a materials scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $131K, rent takes 14.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for materials scientists in Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials scientists typically earn — is $54K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,220/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Indiana?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $131K here vs. $118K nationally.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for materials scientists?
Indiana pays $131K median vs. the U.S. average of $118K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $142K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do materials scientists make in Indiana?
The median is $130,540 a year, that works out to about $63 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,660, and experienced materials scientists can clear $197,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $131K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,000/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 14.3% 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 Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (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 $142,185 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.