Materials Scientist salary in Washington
Materials Scientists in Washington earn a median of $127,250 a year ($61.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 290 workers.
Pay ranges from $76,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $209,800 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $117,790. Washington ranks 10th of 30 states for materials scientists pay. There are 0.08 materials scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $139,140, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials scientists in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,390 | $36.73 |
| 25th percentile | $98,000 | $47.11 |
| Median | $127,250 | $61.18 |
| 75th percentile | $163,820 | $78.76 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $209,800 | $100.87 |
| Average (mean) | $139,140 | $66.89 |
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 | $10,604.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,302.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,894.23 |
| Weekly | $2,447.12 |
| Hourly | $61.18 |
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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $150,550 | 90 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $137,520 | 50 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $98,300 | $47.26 |
| Chemist | $97,420 | $46.84 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $105,020 | $50.49 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $133,980 | $64.41 |
| Physicist | $134,790 | $64.81 |
| Hydrologist | $105,600 | $50.77 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $94,400 | $45.39 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $105,680 | $50.81 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,920 | $49.48 |
| Biological Technician | $60,800 | $29.23 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $100,990 | $48.56 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $108,110 | $51.97 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $83,780 | $40.28 |
| School Psychologist | $108,780 | $52.30 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for materials scientists in Washington is $127,250 a year, or $61.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $76,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $209,800 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials scientists make in Washington?
The top 10% of materials scientists in Washington earn at least $209,800 a year. The top 25% earn $163,820 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials scientists in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $76,390 a year, and a quarter of materials scientists earn $98,000 or less.
How many materials scientists work in Washington?
About 290 materials scientists are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.