The median annual wage for Materials Scientists in California is $131,530 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $130,220.
Pay spans roughly $57,030 at the 10th percentile to $182,860 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $63.24 per hour. An estimated 610 people work as materials scientists in California.
| Median (annual) | $131,530 |
| Mean (annual) | $130,220 |
| Median (hourly) | $63.24 |
| 10th percentile | $57,030 |
| 90th percentile | $182,860 |
| Employment | 610 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.