Fashion Designer
Median wage · national
$80,960
Range: $52K – $106K
Employed
21K
Openings/yr
3K
Typically: bachelor's degree
Materials Scientist
With a national median of $117,790 and +8.3% projected job growth through 2035, Materials Scientist offers both strong financial return and stable long-term demand.
About Materials Scientist
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a materials scientist: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Apparel & Textiles and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
Research and study the structures and chemical properties of various natural and synthetic or composite materials, including metals, alloys, rubber, ceramics, semiconductors, polymers, and glass. Determine ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials with new or specific properties for use in a variety of products and applications. Includes glass scientists, ceramic scientists, metallurgical scientists, and polymer scientists.
- Median Wage
- $117,790
- Employed Nationally
- 8K
- Openings / Year
- 600
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
Also known as:
Applications Scientist
Material Science Engineer
Materials Research Engineer
Materials Scientist
Metal Alloy Scientist
How Much Do Materials Scientists Make?
Most materials scientists take home around $117,790 a year, well above what most college graduates make. Half earn somewhere between $89,990 and $150,550, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. Worth weighing against how long the training takes. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
$117,790
National Median (Annual)
Well above average for college graduates.
$90K–$151K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$89,990
Entry-level
$117,790
Median
$150,550
Experienced
What Do Materials Scientists Do?
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
What You'll Do
- Conduct research on the structures and properties of materials, such as metals, alloys, polymers, and ceramics, to obtain information that could be used to develop new products or enhance existing ones.
- Test metals to determine conformance to specifications of mechanical strength, strength-weight ratio, ductility, magnetic and electrical properties, and resistance to abrasion, corrosion, heat, and cold.
- Test material samples for tolerance under tension, compression, and shear to determine the cause of metal failures.
- Determine ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials with new or specific properties for use in a variety of products and applications.
- Prepare reports, manuscripts, proposals, and technical manuals for use by other scientists and requestors, such as sponsors and customers.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Complex Problem Solving
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Science
Critical Thinking
Who Thrives Here
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
Where Do Materials Scientists Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Materials Scientists?
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by +8.3%, meaning it is growing faster than most occupations, so jobs should be easier to find over time. Around 600 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
↗ +8.3%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)
Faster than average.
600
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
8K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Materials Scientist professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $117,790 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 1,030 | $177,030 | +50.3% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 890 | $132,600 | +12.6% |
| 3 | New York | 530 | $131,740 | +11.8% |
| 4 | North Carolina | 490 | $106,470 | -9.6% |
| 5 | Ohio | 450 | $108,830 | -7.6% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
To get hired here you will usually need a bachelor's degree. The 2 programs below are the most common routes in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
The next most common path is a Materials Sciences program and the colleges offering it, which suits a different kind of applicant.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apparel & Textiles | 2,961 | $57,640 | 135 |
| 2 | Materials Sciences | 679 | $94,684 | 68 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Materials Scientists
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 93 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
| 3 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA | 92 | $14,251 | $80,735 |
| 4 | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN | 90 | $15,846 | $91,565 |
| 5 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | 90 | $11,655 | $72,200 |
| 6 | California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA | 90 | $10,440 | $64,403 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Materials Scientist, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Materials Scientist pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Materials Scientist Pros & Cons
Strong earnings and growing demand make Materials Scientist a compelling path. The 3 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.
PROS
- Very high median salary The national median of $117,790 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
- Fast-growing field At +8.3% projected growth through 2035, this career grows faster than the national average of about +5%. A strong signal for long-term demand.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $150,550 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
CONS
- Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $117,790 median while building the experience employers require.
Materials Scientist Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Materials Scientist professionals earn?
Around $117,790 a year for the typical worker, well into the top quartile of US wages. The middle 50% of earners fall between $89,990 and $150,550. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is Materials Scientist a good career?
Yes, the data is strong. Median pay of $117,790 with +8.3% projected growth through 2035 is a combination most fields cannot match. The real variable is early career: workers around the 25th percentile earn $89,990, so your first employer and location will shape your trajectory more than the national number suggests.
How long does it take to work as Materials Scientists?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Apparel & Textiles are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $117,790 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
What is the job outlook for Materials Scientist?
Employment is projected to change by +8.3% through 2035, faster than average compared with other occupations. Around 600 roles open each year once you count people retiring and moving on, which matters more to someone starting out than the growth rate does. 8K people do this job nationwide today, so it is an established field rather than a niche one. Source: BLS May 2025.
Why do Materials Scientist salaries vary so widely?
The $60,560 gap between the 25th ($89,990) and 75th ($150,550) percentile reflects how much employer type, industry, specialization, and geography affect pay. Entry-level roles and lower-demand markets cluster near the bottom; senior, specialized, or high-cost-metro positions push the top. In fields with this much spread, where you work and what you specialize in often matters more than years of experience.
What skills do Materials Scientist professionals need?
Mainly Complex Problem Solving, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Science, and Critical Thinking. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.
Related Findings
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- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 106 of 393 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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