Materials Scientist salary in Texas
Materials Scientists in Texas earn a median of $72,700 a year ($34.95 an hour), based on BLS data for 300 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $151,050 for the top 10%. That is 38% lower than the national median of $117,790. Texas ranks 28th of 30 states for materials scientists pay. There are 0.02 materials scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.39). The average (mean) salary is $90,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials scientists in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,970 | $24.50 |
| 25th percentile | $62,510 | $30.05 |
| Median | $72,700 | $34.95 |
| 75th percentile | $114,100 | $54.86 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $151,050 | $72.62 |
| Average (mean) | $90,480 | $43.50 |
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 | $6,058.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,029.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,796.15 |
| Weekly | $1,398.08 |
| Hourly | $34.95 |
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 Texas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $82,080 | 60 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $75,360 | 90 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $63,390 | 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 Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $92,000 | $44.23 |
| Chemist | $99,640 | $47.90 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $145,220 | $69.82 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $100,920 | $48.52 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $84,990 | $40.86 |
| Physicist | $184,040 | $88.48 |
| Hydrologist | $81,080 | $38.98 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $79,660 | $38.30 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $80,470 | $38.69 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $48,960 | $23.54 |
| Chemical Technician | $62,580 | $30.09 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $57,980 | $27.87 |
| School Psychologist | $83,690 | $40.24 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $83,660 | $40.22 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Texas
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 Texas?
The median salary for materials scientists in Texas is $72,700 a year, or $34.95 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $151,050 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials scientists make in Texas?
The top 10% of materials scientists in Texas earn at least $151,050 a year. The top 25% earn $114,100 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials scientists in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,970 a year, and a quarter of materials scientists earn $62,510 or less.
How many materials scientists work in Texas?
About 300 materials scientists are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.