Materials Scientist salary in Maryland
Materials Scientists in Maryland earn a median of $112,400 a year ($54.04 an hour), based on BLS data for 270 workers.
Pay ranges from $69,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $165,670 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $117,790. Maryland ranks 17th 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 $113,450, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials scientists in Maryland
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $69,990 | $33.65 |
| 25th percentile | $77,580 | $37.30 |
| Median | $112,400 | $54.04 |
| 75th percentile | $135,830 | $65.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,670 | $79.65 |
| Average (mean) | $113,450 | $54.54 |
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 | $9,366.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,683.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,323.08 |
| Weekly | $2,161.54 |
| Hourly | $54.04 |
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 Maryland
| 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 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $92,390 | 130 |
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 Maryland
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chemist | $140,670 | $67.63 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $141,290 | $67.93 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $84,190 | $40.48 |
| Physicist | $174,390 | $83.84 |
| Astronomer | $132,620 | $63.76 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $128,800 | $61.92 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $110,510 | $53.13 |
| Hydrologist | $143,010 | $68.75 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $106,000 | $50.96 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $121,680 | $58.50 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $68,390 | $32.88 |
| Biological Technician | $52,900 | $25.44 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $131,810 | $63.37 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $91,820 | $44.14 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Maryland
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 Maryland?
The median salary for materials scientists in Maryland is $112,400 a year, or $54.04 an hour. Pay ranges from $69,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $165,670 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials scientists make in Maryland?
The top 10% of materials scientists in Maryland earn at least $165,670 a year. The top 25% earn $135,830 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials scientists in Maryland?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $69,990 a year, and a quarter of materials scientists earn $77,580 or less.
How many materials scientists work in Maryland?
About 270 materials scientists are employed in Maryland, not counting the self-employed.