Mid-level Materials Scientist salary in Houston, TX
Based on 13 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Freeport, Lake Jackson, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Sealy.
Also listed as: Research Associate Materials Science
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $57,280 |
| 25th | $71,261 |
| 50th (median) | $75,000 |
| 75th | $80,000 |
| 90th | $117,465 |
Cost of living
Houston's median mid-level Materials Scientist salary of $75,000 is worth about $76,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Houston = 98.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Materials Scientists in the Houston, TX area earned a median of $75,360 in May 2025 (90 employed). The H-1B median here is $75,000, 0% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| W.m. Rice University | too few | 3 |
| Applied Optoelectronics | too few | 2 |
| Underwriters Laboratories | 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 | $58,530 | 20 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $75,000 | 13 |
| Senior · Level III | $93,746 | 65 |
| Expert · Level IV | $114,917 | 19 |
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 | $48,797 | $58,530 | 20 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $74,672 | $75,000 | 13 |
| Senior · Level III | $93,746 | $93,746 | 65 |
| Expert · Level IV | $106,995 | $114,917 | 19 |
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.