Materials Scientists Salary
The median pay for a materials scientists in Ohio is $108,830/year ($52.32/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $55K at the entry level to $159K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $119,005 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,188/month, or 17.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $109K get you in Ohio?
About materials scientists
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What this looks like in Ohio
Materials scientists pay in Ohio tracks closely to the national median, $109K locally vs. $118K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,188/month, 17.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ohio
Entry-level materials scientists (10th percentile) start around $55K. Mid-career wages sit at $109K. Top earners bring in $159K or more, a $105K spread from bottom to top.
Materials Scientists salary by metro in Ohio
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | $112K | +3% | 50 |
| Akron | $110K | +1% | 70 |
| Cincinnati | $108K | -1% | 200 |
| Columbus | $104K | -4% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track materials scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a materials scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $109K, rent takes 17.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for materials scientists in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials scientists typically earn — is $55K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,277/month. At HUD’s $1,188/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 Ohio?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $109K locally vs. $118K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for materials scientists?
Ohio pays $109K median vs. the U.S. average of $118K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $119K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do materials scientists make in Ohio?
The median is $108,830 a year, that works out to about $52 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $54,620, and experienced materials scientists can clear $159,130. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $109K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,881/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 17.3% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $119,005 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.