Expert Materials Scientist salary in San Francisco, CA
Based on 13 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Berkeley, Fremont, Livermore, Menlo Park, Brisbane.
Also listed as: Research Associate Materials Science
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $160,600 |
| 25th | $165,000 |
| 50th (median) | $180,918 |
| 75th | $191,984 |
| 90th | $278,880 |
Cost of living
San Francisco's median expert Materials Scientist salary of $180,918 is worth about $156,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Francisco = 115.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Materials Scientists in the San Francisco, CA area earned a median of $231,710 in May 2025 (380 employed). The H-1B median here is $180,918, 22% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory | too few | 3 |
| Freenome Holdings | too few | 2 |
| Periodic Labs | 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 | too few | 5 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $141,052 | 10 |
| Senior · Level III | $145,475 | 15 |
| Expert · Level IV | $180,918 | 13 |
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 | $111,966 | $141,052 | 10 |
| Senior · Level III | $145,475 | $145,475 | 15 |
| Expert · Level IV | $159,910 | $180,918 | 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.