How does company size affect Materials Scientist pay in Minneapolis?

Large enterprises in Minneapolis pay Materials Scientists 10 to 20% more in base, but startups compensate with equity. The range of $80,000 to $134,000 spans both.

What does total compensation look like for a Materials Scientist in Minneapolis?

Corporate R&D labs offer bonuses of 8 to 15% and patent bonuses of $2,000 to $5,000 per filing. Base salaries in Minneapolis range from $80,000 to $134,000.

What skills drive the highest Materials Scientist salaries?

Industry sector and degree level create the widest pay gaps. In Minneapolis, compensation ranges from $80,000 to $134,000.

Materials Scientist.

Q: What is the average Materials Scientist salary in Minneapolis?

The average Materials Scientist salary in Minneapolis, MN is $103,000 in 2026. The 25th percentile is $80,000 and the 75th percentile is $134,000.

Minneapolis.

$103,000

median salary, 5% above the national average

$80,000 to $134,000. Updated for 2026.

Get your playbook

The numbers.

Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.

If you are evaluating a Materials Scientist offer in Minneapolis, MN, here is the reality: $80,000 to $134,000, with $103,000 as the midpoint. 5% above the national average. Industry sector and degree level create the widest pay gaps. Do not accept the first number.

Salary range

25th Percentile

$80,000

per year

Median

$103,000

per year

75th Percentile

$134,000

per year

Tap to place your salary

$80,000$134,000

How Minneapolis compares

Minneapolis, MN

$103,000

Cost of living: 5% above average

National Average

$98,000

Minneapolis is $5,000 above

What you should know

Here is what the Materials Scientist market actually looks like in Minneapolis. Minneapolis is a Fortune 500 powerhouse with Target, UnitedHealth Group, Best Buy, and 3M headquartered in the metro. The city's strong corporate base creates consistent demand across finance, healthcare, retail tech, and supply chain roles. Quality of life is high, and employers offer competitive salaries to offset the cold winters. 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 Minneapolis, 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: minnesota's top income tax rate is 9.85%, one of the highest state rates. There is no city income tax in Minneapolis, but the state burden significantly reduces take home pay. When someone quotes you $103,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.

On negotiation: Emphasize retention risk when negotiating. Minneapolis employers know that remote opportunities from warmer, lower tax states are a constant competitive threat. The range for Materials Scientists in Minneapolis runs from $80,000 to $134,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.

Top industries in Minneapolis

Retail & E-CommerceHealthcareFinancial ServicesFood & AgricultureManufacturing

Negotiating in Minneapolis

Emphasize retention risk when negotiating. Minneapolis employers know that remote opportunities from warmer, lower tax states are a constant competitive threat.

Common questions.

For R&D leadership and principal scientist positions, a PhD is typically required and adds $20,000 to $40,000 over master's holders. Industry roles in quality or process engineering are accessible with a master's but cap lower.

Battery materials, semiconductor thin films, and advanced polymer composites are the highest-demand specializations. The energy transition and chip manufacturing expansion are driving 10 to 15% annual salary growth in these niches.

In 2026, the average Materials Scientist salary in Minneapolis, MN is $103,000. The 25th percentile sits at $80,000 and the 75th percentile reaches $134,000. Where you land depends on your experience, the company's size, and the specific skills you bring.

In Minneapolis, large enterprises typically pay Materials Scientists 10 to 20% more in base salary than small companies, but startups often compensate with equity that can exceed base salary value. Corporate R&D labs offer bonuses of 8 to 15% and patent bonuses of $2,000 to $5,000 per filing. The $80,000 to $134,000 range reflects this entire spectrum.

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. In Minneapolis's market, the base range of $80,000 to $134,000 is just the starting point for negotiation.

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. In Minneapolis, these factors can push compensation from the 25th percentile of $80,000 to the 75th percentile of $134,000 or beyond.