Materials Scientist Salary in Seattle, WA: 2026

Materials Scientist salary data for Seattle, WA, adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.

The estimated median Materials Scientist salary in Seattle, WA is $179,041 per year ($14,920/month, $86/hr). This modeled estimate scales Salario's national benchmark (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median) by the local cost of living index of 152, which is 52% above the national average.

All four figures are Salario estimates (national benchmark scaled by Seattle's cost-of-living index); BLS does not publish a metro median for this title here.

Materials Scientist Take-Home Pay in Seattle

Materials Scientist Requirements

Seattle Job Market Overview

Seattle, Washington has a population of 737,015 and an unemployment rate of 3.0%. The top industries are Technology, Healthcare, Aerospace. The local job growth rate is 2.8%, and the average commute time is 28minutes. These local figures come from Salario's city dataset; verify current values with BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Census QuickFacts.

Salary Percentile Breakdown: Materials Scientist in Seattle

Based on Salario's cost-of-living-adjusted salary tiers for Materials Scientist in Seattle, WA, here is an estimated percentile breakdown:

Percentiles are approximations, not measured local percentiles: P10, P50, P75, and P90 map to Salario's entry, median, senior, and top salary tiers scaled by the local cost-of-living index, and P25 is interpolated halfway between entry and median. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Seattle's Technology sector.

5-Year Salary Trajectory

Salario's national dataset models approximately 10.0% salary growth for Materials Scientists over the past 5 years. That national assumption is applied to the Seattle estimate below; it is not a measured local trend, and it should be compared with cumulative CPI inflation before treating it as a real-terms gain:

Year-over-year, an average Materials Scientist can expect a 10.3% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 7 years in Seattle. Negotiation, certifications (PE License), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.

Seattle vs National Average

The national median Materials Scientist salary is $117,790 (BLS OEWS May 2025, Materials Scientists). In Seattle, the cost-of-living-adjusted median of $179,041 is 52.0% above the national figure. This reflects Seattle's cost of living index of 152 (higher than the national average of 100).

For Materials Scientists, this means: rent typically consumes 21.6% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered affordable), and a median home in Seattle costs about 5.8× annual take-home. Homeownership in Seattle on this salary is challenging, most experts recommend keeping home costs to 3-4× income.

Industry Context: Technology in Seattle

Seattle's economy is anchored by Technology, Healthcare, Aerospace, with 737,015 residents and an unemployment rate of 3.0% in Salario's city dataset. Pay for Materials Scientists can differ by sector, so compare Technology employers with other local employers. The local job growth rate in Salario's city dataset is 2.8%, and Salario's job dataset lists a 6.0% growth outlook for Materials Scientist roles; check the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for the official 2024-2034 projection for the closest matching occupation.

Methodology & Data Sources

Last reviewed: 2026. Salario's salary dataset is refreshed periodically, not automatically; check the linked BLS releases for the latest official data. Materials Scientist salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Technology vs others in Seattle), specific skill set (Materials Characterization, XRD, SEM), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions