Materials Scientists pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,570 a year or less, while the top 10% make $161,880 or more. The middle half of materials scientists in San Diego earn between $60,100 and $138,600.
- $50K10th
- $60K25th
- $96KMedian
- $139K75th
- $162K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $102,920 | $8,577 | $49.48 |
| Median | $96,050 | $8,004 | $46.18 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,100 | $5,008 | $28.89 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $138,600 | $11,550 | $66.63 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Materials Scientists pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Materials scientists in San Diego earn 46% less than the California average ($189,460) and 18% less than the U.S. average ($126,180). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $117,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $102,920 | $96,050 | $49,570 | $161,880 | 80 |
| California | $189,460 | $177,030 | $96,050 | $300,330 | 1,030 |
| 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 San Diego
On the average salary of $102,920, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $75,755 a year, or $6,313 a month and $2,914 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for materials scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $102,920 buys what about $91,986 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 9.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Materials Scientists salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 5th of 5 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($225,960).
- San Francisco$225,960
- San Jose$225,780
- Los Angeles$154,850
- Riverside$129,240
- San Diego$102,920
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 San Diego: questions
How much do materials scientists make an hour in San Diego?
$49.48 an hour on average, and $46.18 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level materials scientists salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,570 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,100, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the materials scientists take-home pay in San Diego?
About $75,755 a year ($6,313 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $102,920. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do materials scientists earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% less 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.8%.
- 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). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.92, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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