Materials Scientists pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $96,310 a year or less, while the top 10% make $169,330 or more. The middle half of materials scientists in Boston earn between $103,890 and $145,600.
- $96K10th
- $104K25th
- $133KMedian
- $146K75th
- $169K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $132,890 | $11,074 | $63.89 |
| Median | $132,600 | $11,050 | $63.75 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $103,890 | $8,658 | $49.95 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $145,600 | $12,133 | $70.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Materials Scientists pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Materials scientists in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($133,360) and 5% more than the U.S. average ($126,180). At the median the gap is +13% against the U.S. median of $117,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $132,890 | $132,600 | $96,310 | $169,330 | 700 |
| Massachusetts | $133,360 | $132,600 | $96,310 | $168,390 | 890 |
| United States | $126,180 | $117,790 | $66,820 | $197,290 | 8,470 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Materials Scientists salary after taxes in Boston
On the average salary of $132,890, a single filer in Boston takes home about $95,772 a year, or $7,981 a month and $3,684 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $102,096 | $8,508 |
| Working in MA | $95,772 | $7,981 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for materials scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $132,890 buys what about $122,744 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Materials Scientists salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 2nd of 2 Massachusetts metro areas for this job; Worcester pays the most ($150,530).
- Worcester$150,530
- Boston$132,890
Highest-paying cities for materials scientists
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($225,960).
- San Francisco, CA$225,960
- San Jose, CA$225,780
- Los Angeles, CA$154,850
- Portland, OR$151,750
- Worcester, MA$150,530
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Materials Scientists salary in Boston: questions
How much do materials scientists make an hour in Boston?
$63.89 an hour on average, and $63.75 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level materials scientists salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $96,310 a year and the 25th percentile is $103,890, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the materials scientists take-home pay in Boston?
About $95,772 a year ($7,981 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $132,890. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do materials scientists earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% more than the U.S. average for this job ($126,180).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-2032; area Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 4.74, this job is 4.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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