Materials Scientist.
New Orleans.
$92,000
median salary, 6% below the national average
$71,000 to $120,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Materials Scientist pay in New Orleans ranges from $71,000 to $120,000 in 2026. The median is $92,000, 6% below the national average. New Orleans has a distinctive economy shaped by energy, port operations, tourism, and a growing digital media sector. Every dollar in that range is negotiable if you come prepared.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $83,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$60,000
to $74,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$78,000
to $97,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$101,000
to $120,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$115,000
to $143,000
Salary trend
+7% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $20,000 to the total package.
Base
$92,000
Equity
$11,000
Bonus
$7,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $112,000
How New Orleans compares
New Orleans, LA
$92,000
Cost of living: 8% below average
National Average
$98,000
New Orleans is $6,000 below
Materials Scientist salary by city
Salary by role in New Orleans
What you should know
If you are interviewing for Materials Scientist roles in New Orleans, here is what you are walking into. New Orleans has a distinctive economy shaped by energy, port operations, tourism, and a growing digital media sector. The city's creative and cultural industries are unique employment drivers. Post hurricane rebuilding has created ongoing demand in construction, engineering, and resilience planning roles. Industry sector and degree level create the widest pay gaps. PhD holders in semiconductor, battery, or advanced composites research earn 25 to 40% more than those with bachelor's degrees. National lab and defense roles add clearance premiums. Expertise in characterization techniques like electron microscopy and spectroscopy boosts marketability.
Entry-level materials scientists start at $76,000 to $88,000 with a master's degree. Senior scientists earn $98,000 to $128,000 after five to eight years. Research directors and principal scientists reach $135,000 to $180,000, with fellows at top labs exceeding $200,000. In New Orleans, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Corporate R&D labs offer bonuses of 8 to 15% and patent bonuses of $2,000 to $5,000 per filing. National labs provide federal benefits, pension contributions, and relocation packages. Semiconductor firms add equity grants worth $10,000 to $35,000 annually. And on the tax side: louisiana's top income tax rate is 4.25%. New Orleans has no city income tax. The moderate state rate and affordable living costs yield good take home pay. When someone quotes you $92,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Highlight energy sector or resilience engineering experience. New Orleans employers pay premiums for professionals who understand the region's unique environmental and infrastructure challenges. The range for Materials Scientists in New Orleans runs from $71,000 to $120,000. 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
Considering a related role?
- A HR Manager in New Orleans earns $93,000 (1% more)
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Common questions.
Materials Scientist salary in other cities
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