Materials Scientists Salary
The median pay for a materials scientists in Montana is $71,810/year ($34.53/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $55K at the entry level to $130K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $74,031 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 23.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Montana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $72K get you in Montana?
About materials scientists
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What this looks like in Montana
Pay for materials scientists in Montana runs about 39% below the U.S. median of $118K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 24.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Montana can be a reasonable trade-off for materials scientistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level materials scientists (10th percentile) start around $55K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $130K or more, a $75K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track materials scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a materials scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 24.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for materials scientists in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials scientists typically earn — is $55K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,302/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 34% 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 Montana?
Local pay runs 39% below the national median — $72K here vs. $118K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for materials scientists?
Montana pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $118K — that’s -39%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $74K — below the national median.
How much do materials scientists make in Montana?
The median is $71,810 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $55,030, and experienced materials scientists can clear $129,960. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,648/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 24.3% 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 Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (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 $74,031 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.