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Materials Scientists Salary in California
Materials Scientists in California earn a median $177,030 a year, 50% above the U.S. median.
- Median in CA
- $177,030 a year
- U.S. median
- $117,790 a year
- Employment
- 1,030
- Location quotient
- 1.04
- Share of jobs vs. U.S. (1.00 = same)
Pay range in California
- Median (50%)
- $177,030 · $85.11 an hour
- Mean (average)
- $189,460 · $91.09 an hour (estimate error ±3.2%)
- 10th percentile
- $96,050 · $46.18 an hour
- 25th percentile
- $131,060 · $63.01 an hour
- 75th percentile
- $233,890 · $112.45 an hour
- 90th percentile
- $300,330 · $144.39 an hour
- Employment
- 1,030 (estimate error ±7.9%)
- Jobs per 1,000
- 0.06
- Location quotient
- 1.04 (1.00 = national share)
Materials Scientists pay by metro area in California
Includes metro areas that cross into this state and nonmetropolitan areas
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Area | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $231,920 | 180 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $231,710 | 380 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $149,980 | 200 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $129,050 | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $96,050 | 80 |
H-1B filings for materials scientists in California
FY 2026 through Q3, by work location
78 certified filings with a median offered wage of $134,000.
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Frequently asked questions
- How much do materials scientists make in California?
- The median wage for materials scientists in California is $177,030 a year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). There are about 1,030 jobs in the state.
- Where in California do materials scientists earn the most?
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has the highest median wage in the state for this occupation at $231,920 a year.