Mid-level Materials Scientist salary in Denver, CO
Based on 13 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Golden, Thornton.
Also listed as: Research Associate Materials Science
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $70,803 |
| 25th | $70,803 |
| 50th (median) | $70,803 |
| 75th | $73,831 |
| 90th | $75,127 |
Cost of living
Denver's median mid-level Materials Scientist salary of $70,803 is worth about $66,900 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Denver = 105.8).
Compared with all workers here
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 $70,803, 34% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Alliance for Sustainable Energy | too few | 9 |
| Alliance for Energy Innovation | too few | 3 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | – | 0 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $70,803 | 13 |
| 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 | $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.