Materials Scientist salary in New Jersey
Materials Scientists in New Jersey earn a median of $103,150 a year ($49.59 an hour), based on BLS data for 440 workers.
Pay ranges from $79,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $139,550 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $117,790. New Jersey ranks 22nd of 30 states for materials scientists pay. There are 0.10 materials scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $107,960, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials scientists in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,450 | $38.20 |
| 25th percentile | $79,450 | $38.20 |
| Median | $103,150 | $49.59 |
| 75th percentile | $126,290 | $60.72 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $139,550 | $67.09 |
| Average (mean) | $107,960 | $51.90 |
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 | $8,595.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,297.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,967.31 |
| Weekly | $1,983.65 |
| Hourly | $49.59 |
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 New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $127,470 | 180 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $120,650 | 560 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $117,650 | 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 |
Related jobs in New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chemist | $84,450 | $40.60 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $79,210 | $38.08 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $109,990 | $52.88 |
| Physicist | $163,270 | $78.49 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $88,500 | $42.55 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $120,180 | $57.78 |
| Hydrologist | $126,680 | $60.90 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $129,280 | $62.16 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,610 | $43.56 |
| Chemical Technician | $58,580 | $28.16 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $127,090 | $61.10 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $122,620 | $58.95 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $55,980 | $26.91 |
| School Psychologist | $95,160 | $45.75 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in New Jersey
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 New Jersey?
The median salary for materials scientists in New Jersey is $103,150 a year, or $49.59 an hour. Pay ranges from $79,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $139,550 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials scientists make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of materials scientists in New Jersey earn at least $139,550 a year. The top 25% earn $126,290 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials scientists in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $79,450 a year, and a quarter of materials scientists earn $79,450 or less.
How many materials scientists work in New Jersey?
About 440 materials scientists are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.