Materials Scientists Salary
The median pay for a materials scientists in Wisconsin is $137,700/year ($66.2/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $74K at the entry level to $161K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $145,977 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 14.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Wisconsin. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $138K get you in Wisconsin?
About materials scientists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Wisconsin
Wisconsin sits well above the national pay line for materials scientists, local pay runs about 17% higher than the U.S. median of $118K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,202/month, 14.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Wisconsin offers a genuinely strong financial position for materials scientistss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level materials scientists (10th percentile) start around $74K. Mid-career wages sit at $138K. Top earners bring in $161K or more, a $87K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track materials scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a materials scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $138K, rent takes 14.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for materials scientists in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials scientists typically earn — is $74K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,419/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is materials scientist a high-paying job in Wisconsin?
Local pay is 17% above the national median — $138K here vs. $118K nationally.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for materials scientists?
Wisconsin pays $138K median vs. the U.S. average of $118K — that’s +17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $146K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do materials scientists make in Wisconsin?
The median is $137,700 a year, that works out to about $66 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $73,650, and experienced materials scientists can clear $160,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $138K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,218/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 14.6% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $145,977 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.