Materials Scientist.
Spokane.
$91,000
median salary, 7% below the national average
$71,000 to $119,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A Materials Scientist in Spokane earns a median of $91,000 in 2026. That is 7% below the national average. The range runs from $71,000 to $119,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Industry sector and degree level create the widest pay gaps.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $82,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$59,000
to $73,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$77,000
to $96,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$100,000
to $118,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$114,000
to $141,000
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
$91,000
Equity
$11,000
Bonus
$7,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $111,000
How Spokane compares
Spokane, WA
$91,000
Cost of living: 8% below average
National Average
$98,000
Spokane is $7,000 below
Materials Scientist salary by city
Salary by role in Spokane
What you should know
The Materials Scientist landscape in Spokane is not what most salary sites will tell you. Spokane is eastern Washington's largest city with a healthcare-driven economy and growing remote work population. The city offers Washington's no income tax benefit at significantly lower cost of living than Seattle. Healthcare systems are the largest employers, with tech growing through remote work migration. 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 Spokane, 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: washington has no state income tax. Spokane has no city income tax. The zero tax environment at a fraction of Seattle's cost of living creates one of the best purchasing power ratios in the Pacific Northwest. When someone quotes you $91,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Negotiate Seattle-area remote salaries while living in Spokane. Many Washington employers offer location-agnostic pay, and the zero income tax plus low housing costs create exceptional value. The range for Materials Scientists in Spokane runs from $71,000 to $119,000. 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 Marketing Manager in Spokane earns $89,000 (2% less)
- The highest-paying role in Spokane is Distinguished Engineer at $294,000
Common questions.
Materials Scientist salary in other cities
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