Materials Scientist salary in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Materials Scientists in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median of $75,360 a year ($36.23 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $56,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $137,390 for the top 10%. That is 36% lower than the national median of $117,790. Pay here is 4% higher than the Texas statewide median of $72,700. There are 0.03 materials scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.48). The average (mean) salary is $88,340, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials scientists in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,870 | $27.34 |
| 25th percentile | $67,820 | $32.61 |
| Median | $75,360 | $36.23 |
| 75th percentile | $118,000 | $56.73 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $137,390 | $66.05 |
| Average (mean) | $88,340 | $42.47 |
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 | $6,280 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,140 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,898.46 |
| Weekly | $1,449.23 |
| Hourly | $36.23 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $82,080 | 60 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $63,390 | 60 |
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 Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chemist | $106,740 | $51.32 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $174,490 | $83.89 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $95,170 | $45.75 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $91,430 | $43.96 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $88,570 | $42.58 |
| Physicist | $199,770 | $96.05 |
| Hydrologist | $99,320 | $47.75 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $80,470 | $38.69 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $82,910 | $39.86 |
| Chemical Technician | $65,050 | $31.28 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $48,680 | $23.41 |
| Biological Technician | $50,140 | $24.11 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $60,200 | $28.94 |
| School Psychologist | $84,850 | $40.79 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
The median salary for materials scientists in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $75,360 a year, or $36.23 an hour. Pay ranges from $56,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $137,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials scientists make in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
The top 10% of materials scientists in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn at least $137,390 a year. The top 25% earn $118,000 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials scientists in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $56,870 a year, and a quarter of materials scientists earn $67,820 or less.
How many materials scientists work in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
About 90 materials scientists are employed in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.