Materials Scientist salary in Minnesota
Materials Scientists in Minnesota earn a median of $132,160 a year ($63.54 an hour), based on BLS data for 290 workers.
Pay ranges from $83,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $172,500 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $117,790. Minnesota ranks 6th 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 $125,000, close to the median.
Pay range for materials scientists in Minnesota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $83,500 | $40.15 |
| 25th percentile | $101,540 | $48.82 |
| Median | $132,160 | $63.54 |
| 75th percentile | $138,320 | $66.50 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $172,500 | $82.93 |
| Average (mean) | $125,000 | $60.10 |
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 | $11,013.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,506.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,083.08 |
| Weekly | $2,541.54 |
| Hourly | $63.54 |
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 Minnesota
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $132,160 | 270 |
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 Minnesota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $88,000 | $42.31 |
| Chemist | $99,280 | $47.73 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $147,890 | $71.10 |
| Hydrologist | $94,580 | $45.47 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $80,540 | $38.72 |
| Physicist | $171,220 | $82.32 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $106,270 | $51.09 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $89,950 | $43.25 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $96,990 | $46.63 |
| Biological Technician | $48,130 | $23.14 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $49,410 | $23.75 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $107,030 | $51.46 |
| School Psychologist | $85,190 | $40.96 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $103,330 | $49.68 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Minnesota
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 Minnesota?
The median salary for materials scientists in Minnesota is $132,160 a year, or $63.54 an hour. Pay ranges from $83,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $172,500 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials scientists make in Minnesota?
The top 10% of materials scientists in Minnesota earn at least $172,500 a year. The top 25% earn $138,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials scientists in Minnesota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $83,500 a year, and a quarter of materials scientists earn $101,540 or less.
How many materials scientists work in Minnesota?
About 290 materials scientists are employed in Minnesota, not counting the self-employed.