Materials Scientists Salary
The median pay for a materials scientists in New Jersey is $103,150/year ($49.59/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $79K at the entry level to $140K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $103,835 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,067/month, about 32.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Jersey. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $103K get you in New Jersey?
About materials scientists
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What this looks like in New Jersey
Pay for materials scientists in New Jersey runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $118K. Rent runs $2,067/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level materials scientists (10th percentile) start around $79K. Mid-career wages sit at $103K. Top earners bring in $140K or more, a $60K spread from bottom to top.
Materials Scientists salary by metro in New Jersey
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton | $118K | +14% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track materials scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Jersey numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a materials scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $103K, rent takes 32.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for materials scientists in New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials scientists typically earn — is $79K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,767/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 New Jersey?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $103K here vs. $118K nationally.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for materials scientists?
New Jersey pays $103K median vs. the U.S. average of $118K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $104K — below the national median.
How much do materials scientists make in New Jersey?
The median is $103,150 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $79,450, and experienced materials scientists can clear $139,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $103K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,376/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 32.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a materials scientists salary go in New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $103,835 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.