Materials Scientists pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $98,510 a year or less, while the top 10% make $199,000 or more. The middle half of materials scientists in Portland earn between $121,570 and $175,340.
- $99K10th
- $122K25th
- $151KMedian
- $175K75th
- $199K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $151,750 | $12,646 | $72.96 |
| Median | $150,550 | $12,546 | $72.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $121,570 | $10,131 | $58.45 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $175,340 | $14,612 | $84.30 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Materials Scientists pay in Portland vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Materials scientists in Portland earn about the same as the Oregon average ($154,140) and 20% more than the U.S. average ($126,180). At the median the gap is +28% against the U.S. median of $117,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $151,750 | $150,550 | $98,510 | $199,000 | 90 |
| Oregon | $154,140 | $150,550 | $105,030 | $199,000 | 100 |
| 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 Portland
On the average salary of $151,750, a single filer in Portland takes home about $101,992 a year, or $8,499 a month and $3,923 every two weeks. Taxes take 33% of gross pay.
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WA | $114,987 | $9,582 |
| Working in OR | $101,992 | $8,499 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Portland a good place for materials scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.4), so the average $151,750 buys what about $143,947 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($60,690). A typical home costs $552,022, or 3.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Materials Scientists salary in nearby metro areas
- Seattle, WA$142,280
- Reno, NV$98,110
- San Francisco, CA$225,960
- Salt Lake City, UT$110,960
- San Jose, CA$225,780
- Los Angeles, CA$154,850
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 Portland: questions
How much do materials scientists make an hour in Portland?
$72.96 an hour on average, and $72.38 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level materials scientists salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $98,510 a year and the 25th percentile is $121,570, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the materials scientists take-home pay in Portland?
About $101,992 a year ($8,499 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $151,750. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do materials scientists earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (38900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.1%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.32, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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