Materials Scientist salary in Boston, MA
Based on 44 certified H-1B filings in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cambridge, Waltham, Woburn, Marlborough, Somerville.
Also listed as: Research Associate Materials Science
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $71,000 |
| 25th | $88,342 |
| 50th (median) | $109,080 |
| 75th | $128,725 |
| 90th | $140,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $70,000 | $55,600 | $94,827 | 45 |
| FY2021 | $67,558 | $57,668 | $109,505 | 30 |
| FY2022 | $93,000 | $71,771 | $105,643 | 14 |
| FY2023 | $111,682 | $69,763 | $127,500 | 14 |
| FY2024 | $122,000 | $92,750 | $135,490 | 15 |
| FY2025 | $106,000 | $82,417 | $126,650 | 27 |
| FY2026 | $110,000 | $90,000 | $137,634 | 17 |
Cost of living
Boston's median Materials Scientist salary of $109,080 is worth about $100,800 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Boston = 108.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Materials Scientists in the Boston, MA area earned a median of $132,600 in May 2025 (700 employed). The H-1B median here is $109,080, 18% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | too few | 7 |
| DuPont Electronic Materials International | too few | 4 |
| A123 Systems | too few | 3 |
| actnano | too few | 2 |
| Formlabs | too few | 2 |
| SolidEnergy Systems | too few | 2 |
| Trustees Of Boston University | too few | 2 |
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $90,334 | 15 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 2 |
| Senior · Level III | $125,000 | 17 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $90,334 | $90,334 | 15 |
| Senior · Level III | $121,222 | $125,000 | 17 |
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.