Materials Scientists pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $90,060 a year or less, while the top 10% make $167,670 or more. The middle half of materials scientists in Rochester earn between $100,810 and $122,330.
- $90K10th
- $101K25th
- $103KMedian
- $122K75th
- $168K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $115,060 | $9,588 | $55.32 |
| Median | $102,890 | $8,574 | $49.47 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $100,810 | $8,401 | $48.47 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $122,330 | $10,194 | $58.81 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Materials Scientists pay in Rochester vs. New York and the U.S.
Materials scientists in Rochester earn 17% less than the New York average ($138,200) and 9% less 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $115,060 | $102,890 | $90,060 | $167,670 | 40 |
| New York | $138,200 | $131,740 | $87,880 | $204,830 | 530 |
| 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 Rochester
On the average salary of $115,060, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $83,919 a year, or $6,993 a month and $3,228 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Rochester a good place for materials scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.0), so the average $115,060 buys what about $118,576 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($51,210). A typical home costs $285,034, or 2.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Materials Scientists salary in other New York cities
Rochester ranks 3rd of 3 New York metro areas for this job; Albany pays the most ($138,310).
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 Rochester: questions
How much do materials scientists make an hour in Rochester?
$55.32 an hour on average, and $49.47 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level materials scientists salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $90,060 a year and the 25th percentile is $100,810, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the materials scientists take-home pay in Rochester?
About $83,919 a year ($6,993 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $115,060. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do materials scientists earn more in Rochester than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Rochester, NY (40380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.5%.
- 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). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.42, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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