SOC 19-2032 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Materials Scientists — Portland
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
The median wage for Materials Scientists in Portland, OR is $150,550 per year, well above the national median of $117,790.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Materials Scientists in Portland, OR is $150,550 per year, well above the national median of $117,790. The gap of 27.8% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Pay ranges from under $98,510 at the tenth percentile to more than $199,000 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $121,570 to $175,340.
The area has 90 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.1 of every thousand jobs. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 41st of 681 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $98,510 | −16.4% |
| 25th | $121,570 | +3.2% |
| Median (50th) | $150,550 | +27.8% |
| 75th | $175,340 | +48.9% |
| 90th | $199,000 | +68.9% |
| Mean | $151,750 | +28.8% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Portland run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $150,550 buys what $145,600 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 23.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$150,550as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$145,600US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $150,550 a year, 27.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $98,510 to $199,000 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 90 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Materials Scientists in Portland, OR?
The median annual wage is $150,550, or $72.38 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $117,790, so pay in Portland, OR is 27.8% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Portland, OR earns more than $199,000 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $98,510 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 90 jobs in this occupation in Portland, OR. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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