Materials Scientist salary in District of Columbia
Materials Scientists in District of Columbia earn a median of $137,600 a year ($66.16 an hour), based on BLS data for this job.
Pay ranges from $132,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,700 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $117,790. District of Columbia ranks 4th of 30 states for materials scientists pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. The average (mean) salary is $141,040, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials scientists in District of Columbia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $132,790 | $63.84 |
| 25th percentile | $135,540 | $65.16 |
| Median | $137,600 | $66.16 |
| 75th percentile | $137,610 | $66.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $161,700 | $77.74 |
| Average (mean) | $141,040 | $67.81 |
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 | $11,466.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,733.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,292.31 |
| Weekly | $2,646.15 |
| Hourly | $66.16 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Materials Scientist salary in cities in District of Columbia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $127,490 | 120 |
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 |
Related jobs in District of Columbia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $132,620 | $63.76 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $156,730 | $75.35 |
| Physicist | $157,040 | $75.50 |
| Chemist | $149,860 | $72.05 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $103,860 | $49.93 |
| Political Scientist | $152,530 | $73.33 |
| Economist | $167,590 | $80.57 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $128,440 | $61.75 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $65,330 | $31.41 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $84,590 | $40.67 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $101,940 | $49.01 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $111,530 | $53.62 |
| Historian | $118,290 | $56.87 |
| School Psychologist | $107,500 | $51.68 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in District of Columbia
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 District of Columbia?
The median salary for materials scientists in District of Columbia is $137,600 a year, or $66.16 an hour. Pay ranges from $132,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,700 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials scientists make in District of Columbia?
The top 10% of materials scientists in District of Columbia earn at least $161,700 a year. The top 25% earn $137,610 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials scientists in District of Columbia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $132,790 a year, and a quarter of materials scientists earn $135,540 or less.