Materials Scientist salary in Virginia
Materials Scientists in Virginia earn a median of $124,150 a year ($59.69 an hour), based on BLS data for 100 workers.
Pay ranges from $63,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $184,840 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $117,790. Virginia ranks 13th of 30 states for materials scientists pay. 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 $124,880, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials scientists in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,820 | $30.68 |
| 25th percentile | $100,930 | $48.52 |
| Median | $124,150 | $59.69 |
| 75th percentile | $139,840 | $67.23 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $184,840 | $88.87 |
| Average (mean) | $124,880 | $60.04 |
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 | $10,345.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,172.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,775 |
| Weekly | $2,387.50 |
| Hourly | $59.69 |
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 Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $127,490 | 120 |
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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,230 | $39.53 |
| Chemist | $96,650 | $46.47 |
| Physicist | $145,040 | $69.73 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $83,880 | $40.33 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $88,390 | $42.49 |
| Hydrologist | $132,080 | $63.50 |
| Astronomer | $128,930 | $61.99 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $93,620 | $45.01 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,800 | $43.66 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $140,670 | $67.63 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $67,240 | $32.33 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $86,520 | $41.60 |
| Biological Technician | $53,360 | $25.65 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $86,030 | $41.36 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for materials scientists in Virginia is $124,150 a year, or $59.69 an hour. Pay ranges from $63,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $184,840 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials scientists make in Virginia?
The top 10% of materials scientists in Virginia earn at least $184,840 a year. The top 25% earn $139,840 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials scientists in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $63,820 a year, and a quarter of materials scientists earn $100,930 or less.
How many materials scientists work in Virginia?
About 100 materials scientists are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.