Materials Scientist salary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Materials Scientists in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median of $137,520 a year ($66.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $89,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $207,950 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $117,790. Pay here is 8% higher than the Washington statewide median of $127,250. There are 0.03 materials scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.47). The average (mean) salary is $142,280, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials scientists in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $89,900 | $43.22 |
| 25th percentile | $104,400 | $50.19 |
| Median | $137,520 | $66.11 |
| 75th percentile | $177,030 | $85.11 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $207,950 | $99.98 |
| Average (mean) | $142,280 | $68.40 |
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 | $11,460 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,730 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,289.23 |
| Weekly | $2,644.62 |
| Hourly | $66.11 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $150,550 | 90 |
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 Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $102,980 | $49.51 |
| Chemist | $87,990 | $42.30 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $107,800 | $51.83 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $134,720 | $64.77 |
| Physicist | $140,370 | $67.48 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $92,600 | $44.52 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $105,430 | $50.69 |
| Biological Technician | $63,770 | $30.66 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $108,580 | $52.20 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $109,500 | $52.65 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $108,040 | $51.94 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $105,140 | $50.55 |
| School Psychologist | $115,570 | $55.56 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $96,450 | $46.37 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median salary for materials scientists in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $137,520 a year, or $66.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $89,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $207,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials scientists make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The top 10% of materials scientists in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn at least $207,950 a year. The top 25% earn $177,030 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials scientists in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $89,900 a year, and a quarter of materials scientists earn $104,400 or less.
How many materials scientists work in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
About 50 materials scientists are employed in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.