Materials Scientist salary in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
Materials Scientists in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area earn a median of $117,650 a year ($56.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $86,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $163,890 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $117,790. Pay here is 14% higher than the New Jersey statewide median of $103,150. There are 0.24 materials scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 4.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $117,670, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials scientists in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $86,610 | $41.64 |
| 25th percentile | $101,510 | $48.80 |
| Median | $117,650 | $56.56 |
| 75th percentile | $128,490 | $61.77 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $163,890 | $78.80 |
| Average (mean) | $117,670 | $56.57 |
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 | $9,804.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,902.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,525 |
| Weekly | $2,262.50 |
| Hourly | $56.56 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $127,470 | 180 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $120,650 | 560 |
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 New Jersey statewide figures.
Related jobs in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $78,010 | $37.51 |
| Chemist | $81,500 | $39.18 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $117,840 | $56.65 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $92,150 | $44.30 |
| Hydrologist | $128,320 | $61.69 |
| Physicist | $135,030 | $64.92 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $100,000 | $48.08 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $133,870 | $64.36 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $124,300 | $59.76 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $48,610 | $23.37 |
| Biological Technician | $77,170 | $37.10 |
| Chemical Technician | $55,670 | $26.77 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $58,480 | $28.11 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $128,850 | $61.95 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
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 Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
The median salary for materials scientists in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area is $117,650 a year, or $56.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $86,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $163,890 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials scientists make in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
The top 10% of materials scientists in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area earn at least $163,890 a year. The top 25% earn $128,490 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials scientists in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $86,610 a year, and a quarter of materials scientists earn $101,510 or less.
How many materials scientists work in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
About 60 materials scientists are employed in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area, not counting the self-employed.