Salary data is based on the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan area and applied to Fall River using local cost-of-living adjustments.

Materials Scientists Salaries in Fall River, MA

Average Base Pay

$118,010/yr

12% above national average

Monthly

$9,834

Hourly

$57

Cost Index

Materials Scientists in Fall River, MA earn an average of $118,010 per year, with most salaries falling between $94,408 and $141,612 depending on experience, employer, and specialization. At 12% above the national average, Fall River ranks among the higher-paying markets for this role, in part reflecting a local cost of living index of 92. For professionals evaluating a move or negotiating an offer, the headline salary is only part of the picture—what matters most is how far that income actually goes once taxes, rent, and daily expenses are factored in. The sections below break that down in full for Fall River.

Salary Range

The chart below shows the full compensation spectrum for this role, from entry-level to senior positions. The highlighted center bars represent the 25th–75th percentile band where most professionals are paid.

$89K
Low

$118K
Median

$148K
High

25th percentile: $100K75th percentile: $136K

About Materials Scientists

Research Scientists conduct original scientific investigation to advance knowledge or develop practical applications in fields ranging from biology and chemistry to materials science, physics, and computer science. In academic settings, they design experiments, collect and analyze data, develop and test hypotheses, and publish findings in peer-reviewed journals. In corporate or government research settings, the work is often more applied—translating scientific knowledge into new products, processes, or technologies with commercial or policy value. The research process demands rigorous experimental design, statistical analysis, and critical interpretation of results. Research scientists must command the existing literature in their field, position their work relative to prior knowledge, and communicate findings to both scientific and lay audiences. Collaboration with other scientists, technicians, and sometimes clinicians or engineers is standard, as is mentorship of graduate students or junior researchers. Securing research funding through competitive grant applications is a critical skill in academic research careers. A doctoral degree (PhD) is the standard entry-level credential for independent research positions.

What Materials Scientists Do

Design and conduct original experiments to test hypotheses
Analyze experimental data using statistical methods and domain-specific tools
Review and synthesize scientific literature relevant to the research area
Write research papers, grant proposals, and technical reports
Present findings at scientific conferences and institutional seminars
Mentor and supervise graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, or technicians
Collaborate with other scientists and engineers on interdisciplinary projects
Maintain laboratory notebooks and ensure research reproducibility

Key Skills & Qualifications

Deep domain expertise in relevant scientific field
Experimental design including controls, replication, and statistical power
Statistical analysis using R, Python, or specialized domain software
Scientific writing for journal submission and grant applications
Laboratory techniques specific to discipline
Literature review and critical analysis of scientific evidence
PhD in relevant scientific discipline
Grant writing and funding acquisition

Career Path

Research Associate / Lab Technician
Postdoctoral Researcher
Research Scientist
Senior Research Scientist / Principal Investigator
Department Director / Chief Scientific Officer

Materials Scientists Market in Fall River, MA

Salary Competitiveness

Fall River is one of the stronger-paying markets for Materials Scientists, with local salaries running approximately 12% above the national median. This premium typically reflects a combination of higher employer competition, concentrated industry presence, and elevated cost expectations built into local compensation norms.

Cost of Living Impact

Fall River sits close to the national cost average. Monthly essential expenses represent about 34% of take-home pay for this role—a midrange ratio that allows for modest savings and discretionary spending, provided housing costs remain stable.

Effective Purchasing Power

After adjusting for local taxes and cost of living, a Materials Scientists earning $118,010 in Fall River reaches a strong purchasing-power position. The effective standard of living this income supports is materially higher than the gross number alone implies—a useful data point for professionals comparing offers across metro areas.

vs. National Avg

+12%

Cost Pressure

34%

Purchasing Power

Strong

Take-Home Pay Calculator

Enter any gross salary to see how federal and state taxes affect your actual take-home pay, broken down by year, month, and week. Results use an estimated effective tax rate of 27% based on this location and income level.

Annual Salary

Take-home (73%)Taxes (27%)

Annual Net

$86,147

Monthly

$7,179

Weekly

$1,657

Eff. Tax Rate

27%

A gross salary of $118,010 for a Materials Scientists in Fall River translates to roughly $7,179 in monthly take-home pay after estimated federal and state taxes. Set against monthly living costs of $2,472—covering housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare—that leaves approximately $4,707 per month in disposable income. That margin, not the gross number, is what determines whether you can comfortably cover rent, build savings, and afford discretionary spending in Fall River's current market.

How far does this salary go in Fall River?

Cost of Living in Fall River

Estimated monthly expenses for a single person in Fall River, benchmarked against US regional price indices for housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare.

Cost Index

Below Avg — US average is 100. Based on a single person (1-bed apartment).

🏠Housing / Rent$1,350/mo

🍔Food & Groceries$475/mo

🚗Transportation$140/mo

💡Utilities$215/mo

🏥Healthcare$292/mo

Monthly$2,472

Annual$29,664

Disposable Income$4,707

Financial Reality Check

This section compares estimated monthly take-home pay against typical living costs in Fall River to show your real disposable income—the amount remaining after essential bills are paid each month.

Monthly Take-Home

$7,179

Living Costs

$2,472

Disposable

$4,707

Cost Index

Lifestyle

Comfortable

With a monthly take-home of $7,179, your estimated living costs in Fall River are $2,472 ($29,664/yr). This leaves $4,707 per month in disposable income, indicating a comfortable standard of living. Fall River's cost of living is 8% below the national average.

Overall, a Materials Scientists earning $118,010 in Fall River falls into a comfortable lifestyle tier and has meaningful room to save, invest, and absorb unexpected expenses without financial stress. With a cost index of 92, Fall River is 8% more affordable than the national average, which extends your purchasing power. Regardless of tier, prioritizing retirement contributions, an emergency fund of three to six months' expenses, and incremental debt reduction will yield the greatest long-term financial stability—especially as living costs in Fall River continue to evolve.