Materials Scientist salary in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Materials Scientists in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median of $92,390 a year ($44.42 an hour), based on BLS data for 130 workers.
Pay ranges from $65,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,560 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $117,790. Pay here is 18% lower than the Maryland statewide median of $112,400. There are 0.10 materials scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $106,790, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials scientists in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,970 | $31.72 |
| 25th percentile | $73,310 | $35.24 |
| Median | $92,390 | $44.42 |
| 75th percentile | $138,000 | $66.35 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,560 | $77.19 |
| Average (mean) | $106,790 | $51.34 |
Half of materials scientists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,699.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,849.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,553.46 |
| Weekly | $1,776.73 |
| Hourly | $44.42 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Materials Scientist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $127,490 | 120 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $127,470 | 180 |
Highest-paying states for materials scientists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $177,030 |
| Oregon | $150,550 |
| Wisconsin | $137,700 |
| District of Columbia | $137,600 |
| Massachusetts | $132,600 |
| Minnesota | $132,160 |
| New York | $131,740 |
| Indiana | $130,540 |
| Connecticut | $130,320 |
| Washington | $127,250 |
See Materials Scientist pay in every state or the Maryland statewide figures.
Related jobs in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $83,720 | $40.25 |
| Chemist | $118,880 | $57.16 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $108,160 | $52.00 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $128,800 | $61.92 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $86,650 | $41.66 |
| Hydrologist | $138,020 | $66.36 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $88,980 | $42.78 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $63,560 | $30.56 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $83,440 | $40.11 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $124,590 | $59.90 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $111,530 | $53.62 |
| School Psychologist | $114,520 | $55.06 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $84,000 | $40.39 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $96,220 | $46.26 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-2032. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a materials scientist make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median salary for materials scientists in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $92,390 a year, or $44.42 an hour. Pay ranges from $65,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,560 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials scientists make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The top 10% of materials scientists in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn at least $160,560 a year. The top 25% earn $138,000 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials scientists in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $65,970 a year, and a quarter of materials scientists earn $73,310 or less.
How many materials scientists work in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
About 130 materials scientists are employed in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area, not counting the self-employed.