Materials Scientist salary in Ames, IA
Based on 22 certified H-1B filings in the Ames, IA metro area, FY2025–FY2026.
Also listed as: Research Associate Materials Science
Median salary$80,000
Middle 50%$62.6k–$84.6k
vs. national median−15%comparison median $93,746
Filings22FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years
Salary range
National median
$50k$60k$70k$80k$90k$100k$110k
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $61,539 |
| 25th | $62,625 |
| 50th (median) | $80,000 |
| 75th | $84,592 |
| 90th | $95,285 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $59,000 | $57,212 | $63,697 | 11 |
| FY2021 | $56,000 | $53,055 | $63,000 | 17 |
| FY2022 | $61,181 | $54,020 | $67,145 | 21 |
| FY2023 | $61,191 | $57,446 | $74,257 | 14 |
| FY2024 | $64,736 | $60,539 | $85,520 | 13 |
| FY2025 | $80,000 | $62,400 | $85,000 | 13 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 9 |
Cost of living
Ames's median Materials Scientist salary of $80,000 is worth about $90,100 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Ames = 88.8).
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa State University of Science and Technology | $80,000 | 22 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | too few | 8 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $80,000 | 10 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 4 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-level · Level II | $67,558 | $80,000 | 10 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.