Materials Scientists Salary in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the median annual wage for Materials Scientists in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is $132,600. BLS estimates approximately 700 people work in this occupation in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is 12.6% above the national median ($117,790).
Salary Distribution
Not everyone earns the median. Percentile wages show the range of pay within this occupation.
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $96,310 | $46.30 |
| 25th percentile | $103,890 | $49.95 |
| Median (50th) | $132,600 | $63.75 |
| 75th percentile | $145,600 | $70.00 |
| 90th percentile | $169,330 | $81.41 |
Data Reliability
BLS OEWS is a survey, not a full census — every estimate carries a margin of error. The relative standard error (RSE) below is BLS’s own measure of how much an estimate could vary; lower is more precise.
- Wage estimate
- RSE 5.4% — Reliable
- Employment estimate
- RSE 43.8% — Low reliability
Where Does Your Salary Fall?
Enter an annual salary to see roughly where it falls among reported wages for this occupation, based on the percentile points above.
Concentration
- Jobs per 1,000
- 0.258
- Location quotient
- 4.74
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH’s regional price level is above the national average (index 108.266, where 100 = U.S. average). Adjusted for that, the median salary has the purchasing power of $122,476 at the national price level.
This is a Career Atlas USA calculation based on BLS wage data and BEA Regional Price Parities. It is not a separate BLS wage estimate. Wage data: May 2025. Cost-of-living data: 2024.
Sources
Wage data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — May 2025 (release 25).
Figures shown as “Not available” reflect wages the source does not publish (e.g. suppressed for reliability), not zero.