Best cities for a materials scientist
The best cities for materials scientists are Albuquerque, NM, Fremont, CA, and San Jose, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for materials scientists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for materials scientists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a materials scientist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for materials scientists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for materials scientists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a materials scientist. While the absolute best city for materials scientists is Albuquerque, NM, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for materials scientists in 2024.
If you're looking for a materials scientist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for materials scientists in 2026
1. Albuquerque, NM
Total materials scientist jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $86,966 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location quotient: 16.29 2. Fremont, CA
Total materials scientist jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $105,177 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location quotient: 12.16 3. San Jose, CA
Total materials scientist jobs: 37 Average annual salary: $104,827 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location quotient: 14.20 4. Cleveland, OH
Total materials scientist jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $80,705 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location quotient: 6.85 5. Durham, NC
Total materials scientist jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $81,045 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 11.70 6. Cincinnati, OH
Total materials scientist jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $77,533 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location quotient: 11.33 7. Winston-Salem, NC
Total materials scientist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $80,355 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 11.19 8. Pittsburgh, PA
Total materials scientist jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $75,317 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location quotient: 14.39 9. Irvine, CA
Total materials scientist jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $94,939 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location quotient: 17.91 10. New Orleans, LA
Total materials scientist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $78,770 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 8.90
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Best cities for materials scientists
- Albuquerque, NM
- Fremont, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Cleveland, OH
- Durham, NC
- Cincinnati, OH
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Irvine, CA
- New Orleans, LA
- (8 materials scientist jobs)
- (9 materials scientist jobs)
- (37 materials scientist jobs)
- (4 materials scientist jobs)
- (7 materials scientist jobs)
- (9 materials scientist jobs)
- (2 materials scientist jobs)
- (16 materials scientist jobs)
- (18 materials scientist jobs)
- (3 materials scientist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a materials scientist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albuquerque, NM | $86,966 | $55,000 | 559,277 | 8 |
| 2 | Fremont, CA | $105,177 | $69,000 | 233,136 | 9 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $104,827 | $68,000 | 1,025,350 | 37 |
| 4 | Cleveland, OH | $80,705 | $54,000 | 385,809 | 4 |
| 5 | Durham, NC | $81,045 | $52,000 | 263,016 | 7 |
| 6 | Cincinnati, OH | $77,533 | $51,000 | 298,800 | 9 |
| 7 | Winston-Salem, NC | $80,355 | $52,000 | 242,203 | 2 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh, PA | $75,317 | $51,000 | 303,625 | 16 |
| 9 | Irvine, CA | $94,939 | $62,000 | 266,122 | 18 |
| 10 | New Orleans, LA | $78,770 | $48,000 | 391,495 | 3 |
| 11 | Santa Ana, CA | $95,182 | $62,000 | 334,217 | 2 |
| 12 | North Las Vegas, NV | $108,133 | $69,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 13 | Henderson, NV | $107,624 | $69,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 14 | San Francisco, CA | $105,807 | $69,000 | 870,887 | 4 |
| 15 | Indianapolis, IN | $82,527 | $54,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 16 | Raleigh, NC | $80,999 | $52,000 | 458,880 | 3 |
| 17 | Reno, NV | $116,450 | $75,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 18 | Las Vegas, NV | $108,292 | $70,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 19 | Fort Wayne, IN | $83,644 | $56,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 20 | Columbus, OH | $78,791 | $52,000 | 860,090 | 3 |
| 21 | Los Angeles, CA | $96,334 | $63,000 | 3,976,322 | 16 |
| 22 | San Diego, CA | $92,375 | $61,000 | 1,406,630 | 26 |
| 23 | Oakland, CA | $105,638 | $69,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 24 | Colorado Springs, CO | $85,475 | $54,000 | 465,101 | 4 |
| 25 | Toledo, OH | $79,425 | $53,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 26 | Sacramento, CA | $105,451 | $68,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 27 | Scottsdale, AZ | $75,126 | $48,000 | 246,645 | 3 |
| 28 | Stockton, CA | $105,139 | $68,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 29 | Portland, OR | $86,538 | $54,000 | 639,863 | 2 |
| 30 | Seattle, WA | $92,389 | $58,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 31 | Greensboro, NC | $80,583 | $52,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 32 | Fresno, CA | $102,299 | $67,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 33 | Wichita, KS | $79,086 | $51,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 34 | Philadelphia, PA | $78,082 | $53,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 35 | Charlotte, NC | $79,062 | $50,000 | 842,051 | 2 |
| 36 | Bakersfield, CA | $99,347 | $65,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 37 | Chicago, IL | $81,901 | $54,000 | 2,704,958 | 2 |
| 38 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $85,395 | $65,000 | 351,792 | 8 |
| 39 | Phoenix, AZ | $75,197 | $48,000 | 1,615,017 | 6 |
| 40 | Madison, WI | $67,310 | $45,000 | 252,551 | 4 |
| 41 | Long Beach, CA | $95,559 | $63,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 42 | Anaheim, CA | $95,427 | $63,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 43 | Tucson, AZ | $73,270 | $47,000 | 530,706 | 2 |
| 44 | Saint Paul, MN | $66,959 | $45,000 | 302,398 | 8 |
| 45 | Aurora, CO | $84,043 | $54,000 | 361,710 | - |
| 46 | Riverside, CA | $95,118 | $62,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 47 | Denver, CO | $84,022 | $53,000 | 693,060 | - |
| 48 | Arlington, TX | $58,854 | $36,000 | 392,772 | 4 |
| 49 | Virginia Beach, VA | $84,776 | $56,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 50 | Newark, NJ | $79,972 | $55,000 | 281,764 | 2 |
Highest paying cities for materials scientists
| Rank | City | Avg. materials scientist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novato, CA | $106,122 |
| 2 | Richland, WA | $89,914 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $85,395 |
| 4 | Bloomington, IN | $81,959 |
| 5 | Durham, NC | $81,045 |
| 6 | Champaign, IL | $80,960 |
| 7 | Akron, OH | $80,508 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $77,305 |
| 9 | State College, PA | $76,802 |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $72,512 |
| 11 | Idaho Falls, ID | $71,371 |
| 12 | Oak Ridge, TN | $67,553 |
| 13 | Wilmington, DE | $67,379 |
| 14 | Saint Paul, MN | $66,959 |
| 15 | Gainesville, FL | $66,728 |
| 16 | Ann Arbor, MI | $60,725 |
| 17 | Gaithersburg, MD | $60,183 |
| 18 | Austin, TX | $58,932 |
| 19 | Morgantown, WV | $57,093 |
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Updated January 8, 2025