Materials Scientists Salary
The median pay for a materials scientists in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA is $231,710/year ($111.4/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $135K at the entry level to $300K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 115.61), so that salary is closer to $200,424 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $3,604/month, or 26.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $232K get you in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont’s Regional Price Parity (115.61). 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont sits well above the national pay line for materials scientists, local pay runs about 97% higher than the U.S. median of $118K. Rent runs $3,604/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 16% above the national average (BEA RPP 115.61), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for materials scientists in metros near San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $150K | $132K |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $232K | $210K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $96K | $86K |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $129K | $121K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Entry-level materials scientists (10th percentile) start around $135K. Mid-career wages sit at $232K. Top earners bring in $300K or more, a $166K 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a materials scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
Yes — at the median salary of $232K, rent takes 28.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $3,604/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for materials scientists in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials scientists typically earn — is $135K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $8,087/month. At HUD’s $3,604/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
Local pay is 97% above the national median — $232K here vs. $118K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 16% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont compare to the national average for materials scientists?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont pays $232K median vs. the U.S. average of $118K — that’s +97%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 115.61), the purchasing-power equivalent is $200K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do materials scientists make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The median is $231,710 a year, that works out to about $111 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $134,780, and experienced materials scientists can clear $300,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $232K enough to live in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $12,754/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,604/month, which eats 28.3% 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont has a Regional Price Parity of 115.61 (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 $200,424 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.