Materials Scientists pay range in Detroit
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,740 a year or less, while the top 10% make $167,940 or more. The middle half of materials scientists in Detroit earn between $79,440 and $164,900.
- $59K10th
- $79K25th
- $108KMedian
- $165K75th
- $168K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $124,000 | $10,333 | $59.62 |
| Median | $107,650 | $8,971 | $51.75 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $79,440 | $6,620 | $38.19 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $164,900 | $13,742 | $79.28 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Materials Scientists salary after taxes in Detroit
On the average salary of $124,000, a single filer in Detroit takes home about $88,160 a year, or $7,347 a month and $3,391 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Is Detroit a good place for materials scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Detroit area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.3), so the average $124,000 buys what about $123,632 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Detroit ($52,080). A typical home costs $269,080, or 2.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Materials Scientists salary in nearby metro areas
- Cleveland, OH$118,440
- Akron, OH$115,650
- Columbus, OH$99,670
- Chicago, IL$140,350
- Cincinnati, OH$105,030
- Rochester, NY$115,060
Highest-paying cities for materials scientists
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($225,960).
- San Francisco, CA$225,960
- San Jose, CA$225,780
- Los Angeles, CA$154,850
- Portland, OR$151,750
- Worcester, MA$150,530
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Materials Scientists salary in Detroit: questions
How much do materials scientists make an hour in Detroit?
$59.61 an hour on average, and $51.75 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level materials scientists salary in Detroit?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,740 a year and the 25th percentile is $79,440, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the materials scientists take-home pay in Detroit?
About $88,160 a year ($7,347 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $124,000. Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Do materials scientists earn more in Detroit than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($133,519).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-2032; area Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI (19820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.9%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.96, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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