Materials Scientists pay range in Salt Lake City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,110 a year or less, while the top 10% make $168,580 or more. The middle half of materials scientists in Salt Lake City earn between $90,850 and $143,050.
- $61K10th
- $91K25th
- $101KMedian
- $143K75th
- $169K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $110,960 | $9,247 | $53.35 |
| Median | $101,120 | $8,427 | $48.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $90,850 | $7,571 | $43.68 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $143,050 | $11,921 | $68.77 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Materials Scientists pay in Salt Lake City vs. Utah and the U.S.
Materials scientists in Salt Lake City earn 12% less than the Utah average ($126,590) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($126,180). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $117,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City | $110,960 | $101,120 | $61,110 | $168,580 | 30 |
| Utah | $126,590 | $126,840 | $67,360 | $175,440 | 110 |
| 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 Salt Lake City
On the average salary of $110,960, a single filer in Salt Lake City takes home about $81,953 a year, or $6,829 a month and $3,152 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 (2026 rules). Utah's taxpayer credit is estimated with the Tax Commission's withholding formula.
Is Salt Lake City a good place for materials scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salt Lake City area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.9), so the average $110,960 buys what about $110,005 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Salt Lake City ($55,240). A typical home costs $568,656, or 5.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Materials Scientists salary in nearby metro areas
- Reno, NV$98,110
- Boulder, CO$122,330
- Denver, CO$118,860
- Riverside, CA$129,240
- 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 Salt Lake City: questions
How much do materials scientists make an hour in Salt Lake City?
$53.35 an hour on average, and $48.62 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level materials scientists salary in Salt Lake City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,110 a year and the 25th percentile is $90,850, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the materials scientists take-home pay in Salt Lake City?
About $81,953 a year ($6,829 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $110,960. Utah's taxpayer credit is estimated with the Tax Commission's withholding formula.
Do materials scientists earn more in Salt Lake City than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT (41620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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). Utah's taxpayer credit is estimated with the Tax Commission's withholding formula.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.70, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.70).
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