AI Materials Scientist.
Tulsa.
$113,000
median salary, 19% below the national average
$85,000 to $145,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
Tulsa is 17% cheaper than the national average. For AI Materials Scientists, that shakes out to a median of $113,000, with the full range spanning $85,000 to $145,000. Compensation reflects the rare combination of materials science domain expertise and ML research capability. Know the range before you walk in.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $102,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$73,000
to $90,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$96,000
to $119,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$124,000
to $147,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$141,000
to $175,000
Salary trend
+7% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $53,000 to the total package.
Base
$113,000
Equity
$32,000
Bonus
$14,000
Signing
$7,000
Estimated total: $166,000
How Tulsa compares
Tulsa, OK
$113,000
Cost of living: 17% below average
National Average
$140,000
Tulsa is $27,000 below
AI Materials Scientist salary by city
Salary by role in Tulsa
What you should know
Here is what the AI Materials Scientist market actually looks like in Tulsa. Tulsa has diversified beyond energy into aerospace, healthcare, and a growing tech remote work community. The Tulsa Remote program has attracted thousands of remote workers with financial incentives. The extremely affordable cost of living means salaries stretch further here than almost anywhere. Compensation reflects the rare combination of materials science domain expertise and ML research capability. Scientists who can apply graph neural networks and generative models to accelerate materials discovery for batteries, semiconductors, or catalysts earn premiums. Publication record in both materials science and ML venues adds value.
Postdoc AI materials researchers start at $95,000 to $115,000. Mid-level scientists with deployed materials discovery systems reach $132,000 to $160,000. Senior scientists leading AI materials programs earn $168,000 to $205,000. Directors of computational materials at tech or energy companies can reach $225,000 to $280,000. In Tulsa, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 17% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity at materials AI companies adds $15,000 to $60,000 annually. Government lab positions offer strong benefits and stability. Bonuses of 10% to 15% are standard. Research budgets including compute and lab access are significant non-monetary benefits. And on the tax side: oklahoma's top income tax rate is 4.75%. Tulsa has no city income tax. The low rate plus extremely affordable housing create exceptional purchasing power. When someone quotes you $113,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Mention the Tulsa Remote program ecosystem. Employers know that remote workers are choosing Tulsa for the cost of living, and they benchmark accordingly against coastal rates. The range for AI Materials Scientists in Tulsa runs from $85,000 to $145,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
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Common questions.
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