As of April 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Materials Scientist in Washington, DC is $116,279, equivalent to $56 per hour, $2,236 weekly, or $9,690 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Materials Scientist in cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, and Fremont.

Annually Salaries for Materials Scientist in Washington, DC vary widely, spanning from $95,038 to $140,523. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($105,160) and 75th percentile ($128,969), while top earners (90th percentile) make $140,523 per year. This $23,809 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Analysis or Analytical Chemistry, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, Washington Materials Scientist often earn 0.0% higher than national averages. However, Washington currently ranks 84 statewide for Materials Scientist job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Materials Scientist Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Materials Scientist Salary $95,038 Washington, DC April 01, 2026
25th Percentile Materials Scientist Salary $105,160 Washington, DC April 01, 2026
50th Percentile Materials Scientist Salary $116,279 Washington, DC April 01, 2026
75th Percentile Materials Scientist Salary $128,969 Washington, DC April 01, 2026
90th Percentile Materials Scientist Salary $140,523 Washington, DC April 01, 2026
25% $105,160 10% $95,038 90% $140,523 75% $128,969 $116,279 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Materials Scientist

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Job Openings for Materials Scientist in Washington, DC

Career Path for this job

  1. Down a level:

    Chemist II

    2 - 4 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

  2. This Job:

    Materials Scientist

    4 - 7 years experience
    Master's Degree or MBA

  3. Up a level:

    Chemist IV

    7 + years experience
    Master's Degree or MBA

Understand the total compensation opportunity for a Materials Scientist, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
105160
128969
116279

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
121873
158107
139113
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Materials Scientist in Washington, DC. The base salary for Materials Scientist ranges from $105,160 to $128,969 with the average base salary of $116,279. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $121,873 to $158,107 with the average total cash compensation of $139,113.
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105160
128969

 

About Washington, District of Columbia    Washington, D.C. is located in the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. East Coast. Due to the District of Columbia retrocession, the city has a total area....More

Washington, District of Columbia  area prices were up 1.3% from a year ago

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Skills associated with Materials Scientist: #develop

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