Materials Scientist salary in Indiana
Materials Scientists in Indiana earn a median of $130,540 a year ($62.76 an hour), based on BLS data for 320 workers.
Pay ranges from $53,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $197,910 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $117,790. Indiana ranks 8th of 30 states for materials scientists pay. 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 $127,210, close to the median.
Pay range for materials scientists in Indiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,660 | $25.80 |
| 25th percentile | $82,180 | $39.51 |
| Median | $130,540 | $62.76 |
| 75th percentile | $190,640 | $91.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $197,910 | $95.15 |
| Average (mean) | $127,210 | $61.16 |
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 | $10,878.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,439.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,020.77 |
| Weekly | $2,510.38 |
| Hourly | $62.76 |
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 Indiana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $133,340 | 460 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $107,500 | 200 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $60,690 | 40 |
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 Indiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chemist | $78,770 | $37.87 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $64,700 | $31.11 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $68,670 | $33.02 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $68,240 | $32.81 |
| Physicist | $105,940 | $50.93 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $103,680 | $49.85 |
| Hydrologist | $80,700 | $38.80 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $83,470 | $40.13 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $81,110 | $39.00 |
| Chemical Technician | $59,290 | $28.50 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $84,990 | $40.86 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $60,150 | $28.92 |
| Biological Technician | $58,790 | $28.26 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $49,020 | $23.57 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Indiana
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 Indiana?
The median salary for materials scientists in Indiana is $130,540 a year, or $62.76 an hour. Pay ranges from $53,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $197,910 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials scientists make in Indiana?
The top 10% of materials scientists in Indiana earn at least $197,910 a year. The top 25% earn $190,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials scientists in Indiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $53,660 a year, and a quarter of materials scientists earn $82,180 or less.
How many materials scientists work in Indiana?
About 320 materials scientists are employed in Indiana, not counting the self-employed.