Materials Scientists: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Materials Scientists fall under the Life, Physical, and Social Science category in the U.S. occupational classification. Materials Scientists earn a median salary of $104,160 per year, ranking in the top 10% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +4.9% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do materials scientists earn?

The median annual wage for materials scientists is $104,160. That puts materials scientists at #84 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. Pay at this level is well above the U.S. median household income, signaling sustained demand and meaningful credential requirements. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is materials scientists a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for materials scientists is +4.9%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 8K positions in 2024 to 9K in 2034, a net change of 1K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.

What do materials scientists do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working materials scientists, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Determine ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials with new or specific properties for use in a variety of products and applications.
2. 2.Research methods of processing, forming, and firing materials to develop such products as ceramic dental fillings, unbreakable dinner plates, and telescope lenses.
3. 3.Confer with customers to determine how to tailor materials to their needs.
4. 4.Write research papers for publication in scientific journals.
5. 5.Supervise and monitor production processes to ensure efficient use of equipment, timely changes to specifications, and project completion within time frame and budget.
6. 6.Test individual parts and products to ensure that manufacturer and governmental quality and safety standards are met.
7. 7.Test metals to determine conformance to specifications of mechanical strength, strength-weight ratio, ductility, magnetic and electrical properties, and resistance to abrasion, corrosion, heat, and cold.
8. 8.Test material samples for tolerance under tension, compression, and shear to determine the cause of metal failures.

Top skills for materials scientists

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become materials scientist?

The standard path into materials scientists begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

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Common questions parents ask about materials scientists