Materials Scientist salary in Denver, CO

Based on 22 certified H-1B filings in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Golden, Thornton.

Also listed as: Research Associate Materials Science

Median salary$73,831

Middle 50%$70.8k–$87.6k

vs. national median−21%comparison median $93,746

Filings22FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

National median

$60k$70k$80k$90k$100k$110k

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $55,702 and $106,947.

Median salary

Filings per year

Shaded: FY2025–FY2026, the years behind the figures above. Median shown for years with at least 10 filings. FY2026 covers Q1–Q3 only.

Show as table

Fiscal year	Median	P25	P75	Filings
FY2020	–	–	–	8
FY2021	–	–	–	5
FY2022	$70,949	$67,600	$70,949	13
FY2023	$67,600	$66,800	$70,102	13
FY2024	–	–	–	7
FY2025	$70,803	$70,803	$86,175	15
FY2026	–	–	–	7

Denver's median Materials Scientist salary of $73,831 is worth about $69,800 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Denver = 105.8).

All Materials Scientists in the Denver, CO area earned a median of $106,720 in May 2025 (240 employed). The H-1B median here is $73,831, 31% lower.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.

Employer	Median	Filings
Alliance for Sustainable Energy	$72,488	14
Alliance for Energy Innovation	too few	5

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Wage level	Prevailing wage (most common)	Median offered salary	Filings
Mid-level · Level II	$70,803	$70,803	13

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.