Materials Scientist salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Materials Scientists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median of $149,980 a year ($72.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 200 workers.
Pay ranges from $95,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $233,890 for the top 10%. That is 27% higher than the national median of $117,790. Pay here is 15% lower than the California statewide median of $177,030. There are 0.03 materials scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.59). The average (mean) salary is $154,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials scientists in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $95,870 | $46.09 |
| 25th percentile | $119,510 | $57.46 |
| Median | $149,980 | $72.11 |
| 75th percentile | $182,460 | $87.72 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $233,890 | $112.45 |
| Average (mean) | $154,850 | $74.45 |
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 | $12,498.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,249.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,768.46 |
| Weekly | $2,884.23 |
| Hourly | $72.11 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $231,920 | 180 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $231,710 | 380 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $129,050 | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $96,050 | 80 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chemist | $87,060 | $41.86 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $105,340 | $50.64 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $136,160 | $65.46 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $94,660 | $45.51 |
| Physicist | $160,270 | $77.05 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $111,790 | $53.74 |
| Hydrologist | $123,420 | $59.34 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $134,890 | $64.85 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,610 | $49.33 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $99,250 | $47.72 |
| School Psychologist | $122,390 | $58.84 |
| Chemical Technician | $58,070 | $27.92 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $96,380 | $46.34 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $59,240 | $28.48 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median salary for materials scientists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $149,980 a year, or $72.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $95,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $233,890 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials scientists make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The top 10% of materials scientists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn at least $233,890 a year. The top 25% earn $182,460 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials scientists in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $95,870 a year, and a quarter of materials scientists earn $119,510 or less.
How many materials scientists work in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
About 200 materials scientists are employed in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.