Materials Scientists Salary
The median pay for a materials scientists in Pennsylvania is $106,920/year ($51.41/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $69K at the entry level to $159K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $112,583 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 19.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $107K get you in Pennsylvania?
About materials scientists
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Materials scientists pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $107K locally vs. $118K nationwide, a 9% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,351/month, 20.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Pennsylvania
Entry-level materials scientists (10th percentile) start around $69K. Mid-career wages sit at $107K. Top earners bring in $159K or more, a $90K spread from bottom to top.
Materials Scientists salary by metro in Pennsylvania
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $127K | +19% | 180 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a materials scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $107K, rent takes 20.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for materials scientists in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials scientists typically earn — is $69K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,131/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 33% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $107K locally vs. $118K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for materials scientists?
Pennsylvania pays $107K median vs. the U.S. average of $118K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $113K — below the national median.
How much do materials scientists make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $106,920 a year, that works out to about $51 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $68,850, and experienced materials scientists can clear $159,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $107K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,694/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 20.2% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $112,583 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.