Materials Scientists Salary
The median pay for a materials scientists in Utah is $126,840/year ($60.98/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $67K at the entry level to $175K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.54), that's roughly $128,719 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,350/month, or 17.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Utah. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $127K get you in Utah?
About materials scientists
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What this looks like in Utah
Materials scientists pay in Utah tracks closely to the national median, $127K locally vs. $118K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,350/month, 17.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 98.54) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Utah
Entry-level materials scientists (10th percentile) start around $67K. Mid-career wages sit at $127K. Top earners bring in $175K or more, a $108K spread from bottom to top.
Materials Scientists salary by metro in Utah
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City-Murray | $101K | -20% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track materials scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Utah numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a materials scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Utah?
Yes — at the median salary of $127K, rent takes 17.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,350/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for materials scientists in Utah?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials scientists typically earn — is $67K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,042/month. At HUD’s $1,350/month FMR, rent would take 33% 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 Utah?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $127K locally vs. $118K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Utah compare to the national average for materials scientists?
Utah pays $127K median vs. the U.S. average of $118K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $129K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do materials scientists make in Utah?
The median is $126,840 a year, that works out to about $61 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $67,360, and experienced materials scientists can clear $175,440. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $127K enough to live in Utah?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,629/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,350/month, which eats 17.7% 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 Utah?
Utah has a Regional Price Parity of 98.54 (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 $128,719 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.