National Salary Info » Materials Scientists

Highest Paying Industries for Materials Scientists

The top 48 highest paying industries for materials scientists (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment in those industries are also shown. As shown in the table, with an average annual salary of $129,510, federal executive branch (oes designation) is the highest paying industry for materials scientists. It is followed by federal, state, and local government (oes designation) industry (average annual salary $121,130). The salary and employment information is computed from data published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2015 [1]. For more information about salaries of materials scientists in a specific industry, use the links in the table.

Table 1. 48 Highest Paying Industries for Materials Scientists

Rank	Industry	Average Salary i	Entry Level Salary i	# of Empl. i
1	Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation)	$129,510	$96,290	40
2	Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation)	$121,130	$73,700	50
3	Federal, State, and Local Government	$121,130	$73,700	50
4	Basic Chemical Manufacturing	$114,960	$66,720	470
5	Converted Paper Product Manufacturing	$114,310	$58,010	50
6	Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services	$113,470	$50,770	180
7	Paper Manufacturing	$111,700	$57,830	60
8	Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing	$108,740	$61,370	30
9	Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing	$103,970	$53,550	330
10	Plastics Product Manufacturing	$103,690	$78,900	200
11	Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing	$102,710	$62,780	50
12	Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing	$102,470	$55,940	480
13	Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing	$101,570	$77,810	240
14	Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing	$100,620	$58,560	150
15	Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing	$99,780	$61,990	130
16	Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing	$99,120	$44,170	70
17	Paint, Coating, and Adhesive Manufacturing	$97,610	$76,290	130
18	Chemical Manufacturing	$95,980	$50,580	1,260
19	Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences	$95,660	$51,730	1,950
20	Scientific Research and Development Services	$95,660	$51,730	1,950
21	Manufacturing	$95,110	$52,700	3,030
22	Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing	$94,240	$46,730	30
23	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$93,670	$48,890	2,660
24	Miscellaneous Manufacturing	$93,550	$59,590	190
25	Rubber Product Manufacturing	$92,150	$74,520	n/a
26	Management of Companies and Enterprises	$90,280	$52,690	390
27	Machinery Manufacturing	$88,970	$65,330	60
28	Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers	$85,610	$44,500	n/a
29	Engineering Services	$85,050	$45,120	240
30	Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing	$84,160	$49,630	190
31	Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing	$83,320	$49,990	110
32	Wholesale Trade	$81,170	$45,380	180
33	Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing	$79,850	$58,150	70
34	Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing	$79,120	$40,960	320
35	Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services	$78,800	$42,910	470
36	Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing	$78,570	$45,480	170
37	Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods	$78,310	$47,710	50
38	Testing Laboratories	$72,890	$41,180	230
39	Primary Metal Manufacturing	$71,680	$44,880	90
40	Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing	$70,320	$38,930	50
41	Public sector -- Federal, state, and local government, including government owned schools and hospit	$66,500	$40,190	460
42	State government, including schools and hospitals	$59,980	$39,810	n/a
43	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - State government owned	$59,980	$39,810	n/a
44	Educational Services - State government owned	$59,980	$39,810	n/a
45	Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools	$57,150	$40,230	530
46	Educational Services	$57,150	$40,230	530
47	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - Privately owned	$52,410	$41,240	n/a
48	Educational Services - Privately owned	$52,410	$41,240	n/a