Materials Scientists Salary
The median pay for a materials scientists in South Carolina is $101,930/year ($49.01/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $70K at the entry level to $137K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $109,402 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,263/month, or 19.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of South Carolina. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $102K get you in South Carolina?
About materials scientists
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Pay for materials scientists in South Carolina runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $118K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,263/month, 20.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, South Carolina can be a reasonable trade-off for materials scientistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Carolina
Entry-level materials scientists (10th percentile) start around $70K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $137K or more, a $67K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track materials scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a materials scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $102K, rent takes 20.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for materials scientists in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials scientists typically earn — is $70K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,204/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is materials scientist a high-paying job in South Carolina?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $102K here vs. $118K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for materials scientists?
South Carolina pays $102K median vs. the U.S. average of $118K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $109K — below the national median.
How much do materials scientists make in South Carolina?
The median is $101,930 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $70,060, and experienced materials scientists can clear $137,490. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,266/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/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 South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (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 $109,402 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.