Materials Scientists Salary
The median pay for a materials scientists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is $127,490/year ($61.29/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $79K at the entry level to $167K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $117,092 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,246/month, or 29.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $127K get you in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Materials scientists pay in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria tracks closely to the national median, $127K locally vs. $118K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $2,246/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for materials scientists in metros near Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $92K | $88K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level materials scientists (10th percentile) start around $79K. Mid-career wages sit at $127K. Top earners bring in $167K or more, a $88K 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a materials scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $127K, rent takes 30% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,246/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for materials scientists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials scientists typically earn — is $79K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,736/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 47% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $127K locally vs. $118K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare to the national average for materials scientists?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $127K median vs. the U.S. average of $118K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $117K — below the national median.
How much do materials scientists make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $127,490 a year, that works out to about $61 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $78,930, and experienced materials scientists can clear $166,700. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $127K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,491/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 30% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (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 $117,092 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.