Materials Scientist salary in New York
Materials Scientists in New York earn a median of $131,740 a year ($63.34 an hour), based on BLS data for 530 workers.
Pay ranges from $87,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $204,830 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $117,790. New York ranks 7th of 30 states for materials scientists pay. There are 0.05 materials scientists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $138,200, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials scientists in New York
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $87,880 | $42.25 |
| 25th percentile | $106,710 | $51.30 |
| Median | $131,740 | $63.34 |
| 75th percentile | $167,640 | $80.60 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $204,830 | $98.47 |
| Average (mean) | $138,200 | $66.44 |
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 | $10,978.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,489.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,066.92 |
| Weekly | $2,533.46 |
| Hourly | $63.34 |
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 York
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $132,650 | 150 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $120,650 | 560 |
| Rochester, NY | $102,890 | 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 New York
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chemist | $90,600 | $43.56 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,160 | $39.50 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $117,820 | $56.64 |
| Physicist | $181,970 | $87.48 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $86,410 | $41.54 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $117,540 | $56.51 |
| Hydrologist | $88,100 | $42.36 |
| School Psychologist | $106,550 | $51.22 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $114,400 | $55.00 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $87,760 | $42.19 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $63,810 | $30.68 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $95,720 | $46.02 |
| Biological Technician | $61,210 | $29.43 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $104,770 | $50.37 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in New York
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 York?
The median salary for materials scientists in New York is $131,740 a year, or $63.34 an hour. Pay ranges from $87,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $204,830 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials scientists make in New York?
The top 10% of materials scientists in New York earn at least $204,830 a year. The top 25% earn $167,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials scientists in New York?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $87,880 a year, and a quarter of materials scientists earn $106,710 or less.
How many materials scientists work in New York?
About 530 materials scientists are employed in New York, not counting the self-employed.