Materials Scientists Salary
The median pay for a materials scientists in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT is $101,120/year ($48.62/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $169K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.87), that's roughly $100,248 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,241/month, or 19.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $101K get you in Salt Lake City-Murray?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Salt Lake City-Murray’s Regional Price Parity (100.87). 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 Salt Lake City-Murray
Pay for materials scientists in Salt Lake City-Murray runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $118K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,241/month, 19.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 100.87) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Salt Lake City-Murray can be a reasonable trade-off for materials scientistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for materials scientists in metros near Salt Lake City-Murray, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $107K | , |
| Boulder | $127K | , |
| Reno | $98K | $97K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Salt Lake City-Murray, UT
Entry-level materials scientists (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $169K or more, a $107K 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 with published data
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 Salt Lake City-Murray numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a materials scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Salt Lake City-Murray?
Yes — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 19.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,241/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for materials scientists in Salt Lake City-Murray?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials scientists typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,667/month. At HUD’s $1,241/month FMR, rent would take 34% 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 Salt Lake City-Murray?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $101K here vs. $118K nationally.
How does Salt Lake City-Murray compare to the national average for materials scientists?
Salt Lake City-Murray pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $118K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.87), the purchasing-power equivalent is $100K — below the national median.
How much do materials scientists make in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT?
The median is $101,120 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,110, and experienced materials scientists can clear $168,580. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in Salt Lake City-Murray?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,235/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,241/month, which eats 19.9% 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 Salt Lake City-Murray?
Salt Lake City-Murray has a Regional Price Parity of 100.87 (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 $100,248 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.