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Materials Chemist Salary in the United States

How much does a Materials Chemist make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Materials Chemist in the United States is $78,168 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $38.

However, a Materials Chemist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $93,004
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $68,127 to $85,934
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $58,985
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Materials Chemist Salaries

A Materials Chemist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Materials Chemist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Materials Chemist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $63,334
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $78,866
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $96,258
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $121,922
  • Expert (over 8 years): $131,461
Levels Salary
Quality C... Level Materials Chemist$63,334
Materials... Level Materials Chemist$78,866
Quality C... Level Materials Chemist$96,258
Quality C... Level Materials Chemist$121,922
Quality C... Level Materials Chemist$131,461
View as Graph

How Do Materials Chemist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Materials Chemists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $86,548.
  • California: $86,220.
  • Massachusetts: $85,070.

Top Paying Cities for Materials Chemists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $98,594
  • San Francisco: $97,514
  • Oakland: $95,459

What Skills Can Increase a Materials Chemist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 8.61% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Food Safety (Mentioned in 2.84% Job Postings): Applying procedures during food preparation, processing, storage, and distribution to ensure consumers are safe from foodborne illnesses.
  • Chemistry (Mentioned in 2.06% Job Postings): Chemistry is the branch of science that deals with the composition, structure, and properties of substances of which matter is composed.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 8.61%
Food Safety 2.84%
Chemistry 2.06%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Materials Chemist's salary.

  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • SOP: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Project Management $83,640
7%
SOP $82,858
6%
Collaboration $82,077
5%
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Materials Chemist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Materials Chemist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 10% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 5% above the average. In contrast, Materials Chemist positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Materials Chemist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Materials Chemist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$82,077$39.05%
Biotechnology$82,077$39.05%
Business Services$82,077$39.05%
Chemicals$82,077$39.05%
Construction$82,077$39.05%

How Education impacts a Materials Chemist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Materials Chemists enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Materials Chemist with a Associate's Degree is between $75,130 and $80,644).

Materials Chemist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Materials Chemist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.8%
High School 1.8%
Associates 4.5%
Bachelors 70.5%
Masters 23.2%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Materials Chemist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Materials Chemist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$68,127
Average $78,168/year
$85,934
$5,677
Average $6,514/month
$7,161
$1,310
Average $1,503/week
$1,653
$33
Average $38/hour
$41
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $85,934 $7,161 $1,653 $41
Average $78,168 $6,514 $1,503 $38
25th Percentile $68,127 $5,677 $1,310 $33

Most common benefits for Materials Chemist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Materials Chemist

Here are companies hiring for Materials Chemist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Materials Chemist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Materials Chemist?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Materials Chemist roles, with salaries approximately 5% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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