Materials Scientists Salary
The median pay for a materials scientists in Virginia is $124,150/year ($59.69/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $185K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $130,974 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,646/month, or 21.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Virginia. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $124K get you in Virginia?
About materials scientists
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What this looks like in Virginia
Materials scientists pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $124K locally vs. $118K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,646/month, 22.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Virginia
Entry-level materials scientists (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $124K. Top earners bring in $185K or more, a $121K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track materials scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a materials scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $124K, rent takes 22.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for materials scientists in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials scientists typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,829/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $124K locally vs. $118K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for materials scientists?
Virginia pays $124K median vs. the U.S. average of $118K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $131K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do materials scientists make in Virginia?
The median is $124,150 a year, that works out to about $60 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,820, and experienced materials scientists can clear $184,840. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $124K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,416/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 22.2% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $130,974 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.