How does Materials Scientists salary grow from entry-level to senior in Virginia? State salary progression based on 2024 BLS data.
256% career growth potentialData: BLS OEWS 2024 • Virginia salary data • Updated 2026-04-06
The salary range for Materials Scientists in Virginia spans from $49,030 at entry-level to $174,700 at senior level — a difference of $125,670 per year.
Senior Materials Scientistss in Virginia earn $125,670 more per year than entry-level professionals.
Complete percentile breakdown showing how Materials Scientists salary increases with experience in Virginia, from entry-level (10th percentile) to senior (90th percentile).
| Experience Level | Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | P10 | $49,030 | $4,086 | $23.57 |
| Early Career | P25 | $89,370 | $7,448 | $42.97 |
| Mid-Career | Median | $118,440 | $9,870 | $56.94 |
| Experienced | P75 | $135,430 | $11,286 | $65.11 |
| Senior / Expert | P90 | $174,700 | $14,558 | $83.99 |
Materials Scientists in Virginia offers exceptional career salary growth. Professionals who advance from entry-level to senior can expect their salary to more than triple — from $49,030 to $174,700. This 256% growth potential makes it one of the highest-growth occupations in terms of pay progression in the state. Investing in skills development and certifications can accelerate this trajectory.
Where does Virginia rank for Materials Scientists senior-level salaries? Compare Virginia's P90 pay to other top-paying states.
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Entry-level Materials Scientistss (10th percentile) earn approximately $49,030 per year, or $4,085 per month. Early-career professionals (25th percentile) earn around $89,370. Based on 2024 BLS OEWS data across all U.S. states.
Senior Materials Scientistss (90th percentile) earn approximately $174,700 per year. Experienced professionals (75th percentile) earn around $135,430. This represents a career premium of 256% over entry-level pay.
The career salary growth potential for Materials Scientistss is 256%. Entry-level professionals start at $49,030, while senior-level can earn up to $174,700 — a difference of $125,670 per year.
The highest-paying state for senior Materials Scientistss is Virginia, where 90th-percentile salaries reach $174,700 per year. See the full state-by-state comparison above.
We use BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024 data. The 10th percentile (P10) approximates entry-level pay — the salary that 90% of workers earn more than. The 90th percentile (P90) approximates senior/expert-level pay — only 10% of workers earn above this threshold. National averages are computed across all reporting U.S. states.
Salary percentile data for Virginia from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. P10 approximates entry-level compensation; P90 approximates senior/expert-level compensation. State averages differ from national averages due to regional variations in cost of living, demand, and workforce composition. Actual salaries vary based on employer, experience, education, certifications, and specific location within Virginia.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Source: BLS OEWS