Materials Scientists pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $89,900 a year or less, while the top 10% make $207,950 or more. The middle half of materials scientists in Seattle earn between $104,400 and $177,030.
- $90K10th
- $104K25th
- $138KMedian
- $177K75th
- $208K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $142,280 | $11,857 | $68.40 |
| Median | $137,520 | $11,460 | $66.12 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $104,400 | $8,700 | $50.19 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $177,030 | $14,752 | $85.11 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Materials Scientists pay in Seattle vs. Washington and the U.S.
Materials scientists in Seattle earn about the same as the Washington average ($139,140) and 13% more than the U.S. average ($126,180). At the median the gap is +17% against the U.S. median of $117,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $142,280 | $137,520 | $89,900 | $207,950 | 50 |
| Washington | $139,140 | $127,250 | $76,390 | $209,800 | 290 |
| 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 Seattle
On the average salary of $142,280, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $108,514 a year, or $9,043 a month and $4,174 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Seattle a good place for materials scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Seattle area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.1), so the average $142,280 buys what about $128,027 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 5.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Materials Scientists salary in nearby metro areas
- Portland, OR$151,750
- Reno, NV$98,110
- Salt Lake City, UT$110,960
- San Francisco, CA$225,960
- San Jose, CA$225,780
- Riverside, CA$129,240
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 Seattle: questions
How much do materials scientists make an hour in Seattle?
$68.40 an hour on average, and $66.11 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level materials scientists salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $89,900 a year and the 25th percentile is $104,400, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the materials scientists take-home pay in Seattle?
About $108,514 a year ($9,043 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $142,280. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do materials scientists earn more in Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- 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 no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.47, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.47).
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