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Materials Scientists Employment & Job Outlook in California (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

California employs 1,030 Materials Scientists professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-05-19

Total Employed
1,030
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
1.03
workers
Location Quotient
3.84
vs national avg
Average Salary
$189K
annual

High Demand in California

The location quotient (LQ) of 3.84 indicates that California has a higher-than-average concentration of Materials Scientists professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

California vs National Average

Total Employed
1,030
National: 8,040
12.8% of national
Jobs per 1,000
1.03
National: 0.27
+281.5%
Average Salary
$189K
National: $119K
+59.0%

Top States by Materials Scientists Employment

#1
1,030
1,030
employed
#2
890
890
employed
#3
530
530
employed
#4
490
490
employed
#5
450
450
employed
#6
440
440
employed
#7
380
380
employed
#8
370
370
employed
#9
350
350
employed
#10
320
320
employed

What Does a Materials Scientists Earn in California?

The average annual salary for a Materials Scientists in California is $189,460. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Materials Scientists jobs are there in California?

California employs approximately 1,030 Materials Scientists professionals (2025 BLS data). This ranks California among the top states nationwide.

Is Materials Scientists in demand in California?

Yes — California has above-average concentration of Materials Scientists jobs (LQ: 3.84). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Materials Scientists in California?

The average (mean) salary for Materials Scientists in California is $189460/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Materials Scientists professionals?

The top state for Materials Scientists employment is California with 1,030 jobs.

Find Your Next Opportunity

Related Pages

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Materials Scientists Employment in Other States

Compare Materials Scientists labor-market data (jobs, location quotient, salary) across the top-employing states.

All Materials Scientists & California Resources

Drill deeper into Materials Scientists pay, hiring, and education data for California.

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Materials Scientists (SOC 192032) in California.

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