Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Materials scientists focus on understanding and improving materials, supported by a strong foundation in science, mathematics, and computers and information technology. This career combines critical and analytical thinking, creativity and innovation, and problem solving and decision making, making it attractive to people who enjoy both quantitative work and inventive exploration. Nationally, employment stands at 9,000, with projected employment growth of 4.9% and about 1,000 annual openings, suggesting a steady flow of opportunities. The national median annual salary of $104,160 indicates strong earning potential. Top locations such as California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington offer especially strong opportunity scores. Within workplaces, project management and leadership skills help materials scientists contribute to and guide complex projects, while writing and reading plus speaking and listening are essential for sharing findings and collaborating. Overall, this role can appeal to students, career changers, and professionals seeking a science-driven, analytically focused career with solid pay and consistent openings.
Materials scientists earn a national median annual salary of $104,160, indicating solid overall earning potential. However, pay varies considerably by location. Among states, California offers a median salary of $177,030, while Massachusetts, New York, Washington, and Colorado also show higher median salaries ranging from $117,290 to $132,600. At the metro level, salaries can be even higher in certain areas. The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro areas both show median salaries above $231,000, while the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metros offer median salaries from about $127,490 to $132,600. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro lists a median of $120,650. These figures suggest that professionals willing to work in specific high-paying metros or states may see significantly higher earnings compared to the national median.
Nationally, materials scientists account for 9,000 jobs, with projected employment growth of 4.9%. This projected growth, combined with around 1,000 annual openings, points to a stable stream of opportunities over time. The presence of annual openings relative to total employment suggests ongoing hiring needs from multiple sources, such as new positions and turnover, though the specific reasons are not detailed. Growth of 4.9% is also reflected in several top states and metro areas, indicating a consistent projection across many key regions. For students and career changers, the combination of defined national employment, measurable growth, and regular openings provides a clear picture of a field with continued demand. For experienced professionals already in the occupation, these indicators support the idea that there should be ongoing prospects for job movement, regional relocation, or advancement within the field, depending on individual goals and geographic flexibility.
Location plays a significant role in opportunity for materials scientists. Among states, California leads with a median salary of $177,030, employment of 1,030, growth of 4.9%, and the highest state-level opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts and New York also stand out, with median salaries of $132,600 and $131,740 and opportunity scores of 65.87 and 65.78, respectively. Colorado and Washington offer median salaries between $117,290 and $127,250 and opportunity scores in the mid-50s. At the metro level, the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area combines a very high median salary of $231,920 with an opportunity score of 77.42, while the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro has an opportunity score of 77.27 and employment of 560. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA also shows a median salary above $231,000 and a strong opportunity score. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV present attractive combinations of median salary, employment, and opportunity scores as well.
Materials scientists typically need a bachelor’s degree, providing a structured educational starting point for entering the field. Within that framework, the role draws heavily on science and mathematics, so programs that build strength in these areas can be particularly relevant. Computers and information technology skills are also central, indicating that comfort with digital tools and data-driven work is important. Success in this career further relies on critical and analytical thinking, creativity and innovation, and problem solving and decision making, highlighting the value of both rigorous analysis and imaginative approaches. Project management and leadership skills matter for organizing work and guiding efforts, while strong writing and reading plus speaking and listening support effective communication of technical information. For students and career changers, focusing education and training on these skill areas can help align their background with the demands of materials scientist roles and prepare them for the expectations of employers in this occupation.
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