Materials Scientists Salary
The median pay for a materials scientists in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA is $129,050/year ($62.04/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $92K at the entry level to $173K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.44), so that salary is closer to $121,242 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,201/month, or 28.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $129K get you in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario’s Regional Price Parity (106.44). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About materials scientists
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What this looks like in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
Materials scientists pay in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario tracks closely to the national median, $129K locally vs. $118K nationwide, a 10% difference. Rent runs $2,201/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.44), so groceries and services cost more too. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for materials scientists in metros near Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $232K | $200K |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $150K | $132K |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $232K | $210K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $96K | $86K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
Entry-level materials scientists (10th percentile) start around $92K. Mid-career wages sit at $129K. Top earners bring in $173K or more, a $80K spread from bottom to top.
Materials Scientists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Materials Scientists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $177K | +50% | 1,030 |
| Oregon | $151K | +28% | 100 |
| Wisconsin | $138K | +17% | 70 |
| District of Columbia | $138K | +17% | N/A |
| Massachusetts | $133K | +13% | 890 |
| Minnesota | $132K | +12% | 290 |
| New York | $132K | +12% | 530 |
| Indiana | $131K | +11% | 320 |
| Connecticut | $130K | +11% | 50 |
| Washington | $127K | +8% | 290 |
| Utah | $127K | +8% | 110 |
| Illinois | $126K | +7% | 380 |
| Virginia | $124K | +5% | 100 |
| New Hampshire | $120K | +2% | 80 |
| Colorado | $117K | -0% | 370 |
| Kansas | $115K | -2% | 40 |
| Maryland | $112K | -5% | 270 |
| Ohio | $109K | -8% | 450 |
| Michigan | $107K | -9% | 230 |
| Pennsylvania | $107K | -9% | 100 |
| North Carolina | $106K | -10% | 490 |
| New Jersey | $103K | -12% | 440 |
| Florida | $102K | -13% | 200 |
| South Carolina | $102K | -13% | 80 |
| Nevada | $97K | -17% | 100 |
| Georgia | $92K | -22% | 350 |
| Iowa | $88K | -25% | 180 |
| Texas | $73K | -38% | 300 |
| Montana | $72K | -39% | 50 |
| Tennessee | $69K | -41% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 30 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track materials scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a materials scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario?
Yes — at the median salary of $129K, rent takes 29.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,201/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for materials scientists in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials scientists typically earn — is $92K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,548/month. At HUD’s $2,201/month FMR, rent would take 40% 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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $129K locally vs. $118K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario compare to the national average for materials scientists?
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario pays $129K median vs. the U.S. average of $118K — that’s +10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $121K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do materials scientists make in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?
The median is $129,050 a year, that works out to about $62 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $92,460, and experienced materials scientists can clear $172,740. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $129K enough to live in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,568/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,201/month, which eats 29.1% 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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario?
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario has a Regional Price Parity of 106.44 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median materials scientists salary is worth about $121,242 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.