The average salary for a materials scientist in District of Columbia is around $137,600 per year.
Avg Salary
Materials scientists earn an average yearly salary of $137,600.
Wages typically start from $132,790 and go up to $161,700.
57% above national average Updated in 2025
Materials scientist earnings by seniority
Top-level materials scientist earnings begin at:
$77.74 per hour
$161,700 per year
Senior-level materials scientist earnings begin at:
$66.16 per hour
$137,610 per year
Mid-level materials scientist earnings begin at:
$66.16 per hour
$137,600 per year
Junior-level materials scientist earnings begin at:
$65.16 per hour
$135,540 per year
Starting level materials scientist earnings begin at:
$63.84 per hour
$132,790 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Materials scientist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Nevada | $97,490 |
| West Virginia | $97,110 |
| Nebraska | $94,930 |
| Georgia | $91,970 |
| Kentucky | $91,820 |
| Iowa | $88,320 |
| Missouri | $86,610 |
| Idaho | $82,380 |
| Alabama | $76,720 |
| Arizona | $74,940 |
| Texas | $72,700 |
| Montana | $71,810 |
| Tennessee | $69,010 |
| Maine | $68,060 |
| California | $177,030 |
| Oregon | $150,550 |
| Wisconsin | $137,700 |
| District of Columbia | $137,600 |
| New Mexico | $137,240 |
| Massachusetts | $132,600 |
| Minnesota | $132,160 |
| New York | $131,740 |
| Indiana | $130,540 |
| Connecticut | $130,320 |
| Washington | $127,250 |
| Delaware | $127,110 |
| Utah | $126,840 |
| Illinois | $125,850 |
| Virginia | $124,150 |
| New Hampshire | $119,990 |
| Colorado | $117,290 |
| Kansas | $115,490 |
| Louisiana | $113,540 |
| Maryland | $112,400 |
| Ohio | $108,830 |
| Michigan | $107,410 |
| Pennsylvania | $106,920 |
| North Carolina | $106,470 |
| New Jersey | $103,150 |
| Florida | $102,340 |
| South Carolina | $101,930 |
How do materials scientist salaries compare to similar careers?
Materials scientists earn about the same as related careers in District of Columbia. On average, they make less than nanotechnology engineers but more than industrial ecologists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Nanotechnology engineer salary | $152K |
| Nanosystems engineer salary | $152K |
| Biochemical engineer salary | $152K |
| Pharmacist salary | $153K |
| Atmospheric scientist salary | $104K |
| Materials scientist salary | $138K |
| Biostatistician salary | $141K |
| Statistician salary | $141K |
| Climate change analyst salary | $133K |
| Industrial ecologist salary | $133K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)