Materials Scientists Salary
The median pay for a materials scientists in Tennessee is $69,010/year ($33.18/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $151K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $76,866 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 25.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Tennessee. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $69K get you in Tennessee?
About materials scientists
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for materials scientists in Tennessee runs about 41% below the U.S. median of $118K. Rent runs $1,215/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Tennessee
Entry-level materials scientists (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $69K. Top earners bring in $151K or more, a $93K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track materials scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a materials scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $69K, rent takes 25.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for materials scientists in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials scientists typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,468/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 Tennessee?
Local pay runs 41% below the national median — $69K here vs. $118K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for materials scientists?
Tennessee pays $69K median vs. the U.S. average of $118K — that’s -41%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $77K — below the national median.
How much do materials scientists make in Tennessee?
The median is $69,010 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $57,800, and experienced materials scientists can clear $150,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $69K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,745/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 25.6% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $76,866 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.