Materials Scientist salary in Santa Maria, CA
Based on 11 certified H-1B filings in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Santa Barbara.
Also listed as: Research Associate Materials Science
Median salary$74,281
Middle 50%$70.4k–$79.9k
vs. national median−21%comparison median $93,746
Filings11FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years
Salary range
National median
$50k$60k$70k$80k$90k$100k$110k
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $69,209 |
| 25th | $70,421 |
| 50th (median) | $74,281 |
| 75th | $79,881 |
| 90th | $79,881 |
Cost of living
Santa Maria's median Materials Scientist salary of $74,281 is worth about $68,300 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Santa Maria = 108.8).
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| University of California at Santa Barbara | $74,281 | 11 |
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 | – | 0 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.