Materials Scientists Salary
The median pay for a materials scientists in Nevada is $97,490/year ($46.87/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $122K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.79), that's roughly $97,695 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,501/month, or 23% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Nevada. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $97K actually covers in Nevada, month by month
About materials scientists
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What this looks like in Nevada
Pay for materials scientists in Nevada runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $118K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,501/month, 23.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 99.79) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Nevada can be a reasonable trade-off for materials scientists who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Nevada
Entry-level materials scientists (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $97K. Top earners bring in $122K or more, a $43K spread from bottom to top.
Materials Scientists salary by metro in Nevada
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reno | $98K | +0% | 60 |
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a materials scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Nevada?
Yes — at the median salary of $97K, rent takes 23.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,501/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for materials scientists in Nevada?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials scientists typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,292/month. At HUD’s $1,501/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is materials scientist a high-paying job in Nevada?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $97K here vs. $118K nationally.
How does Nevada compare to the national average for materials scientists?
Nevada pays $97K median vs. the U.S. average of $118K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $98K — below the national median.
How much do materials scientists make in Nevada?
The median is $97,490 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $78,350, and experienced materials scientists can clear $121,610. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $97K enough to live in Nevada?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,414/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,501/month, which eats 23.4% 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 Nevada?
Nevada has a Regional Price Parity of 99.79 (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 $97,695 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.