Salary data is based on the Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ metropolitan area and applied to Jersey City using local cost-of-living adjustments.

Materials Scientists Salaries in Jersey City, NJ

Average Base Pay

$116,480/yr

10% above national average

Monthly

$9,707

Hourly

$56

Cost Index

139

Materials Scientists in Jersey City, NJ earn an average of $116,480 per year, with most salaries falling between $93,184 and $139,776 depending on experience, employer, and specialization. At 10% above the national average, Jersey City ranks among the higher-paying markets for this role, in part reflecting a local cost of living index of 139. 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 Jersey City.

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.

$87K
Low

$116K
Median

$146K
High

25th percentile: $99K75th percentile: $134K

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 Jersey City, NJ

Salary Competitiveness

Jersey City is one of the stronger-paying markets for Materials Scientists, with local salaries running approximately 10% 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

The cost of living in Jersey City is well above the national average, and essential monthly expenses consume roughly 53% of take-home pay for this role. That compression means a higher gross salary buys less financial breathing room than the headline number suggests—particularly for housing, which tends to dominate the budget in high-cost markets.

Effective Purchasing Power

The purchasing power of $116,480 for a Materials Scientists in Jersey City is moderate: enough to meet essential expenses and build incremental savings, but requiring deliberate budgeting to avoid margin erosion—especially as rent and healthcare costs have outpaced wage growth across many mid-tier markets.

vs. National Avg

+10%

Cost Pressure

53%

Purchasing Power

Moderate

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

$85,030

Monthly

$7,086

Weekly

$1,635

Eff. Tax Rate

27%

A gross salary of $116,480 for a Materials Scientists in Jersey City translates to roughly $7,086 in monthly take-home pay after estimated federal and state taxes. Set against monthly living costs of $3,730—covering housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare—that leaves approximately $3,356 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 Jersey City's current market.

How far does this salary go in Jersey City?

Cost of Living in Jersey City

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

Cost Index

139

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

🏠Housing / Rent$2,350/mo

🍔Food & Groceries$620/mo

🚗Transportation$165/mo

💡Utilities$210/mo

🏥Healthcare$385/mo

Monthly$3,730

Annual$44,760

Disposable Income$3,356

Financial Reality Check

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

Monthly Take-Home

$7,086

Living Costs

$3,730

Disposable

$3,356

Cost Index

139

Lifestyle

Moderate

With a monthly take-home of $7,086, your estimated living costs in Jersey City are $3,730 ($44,760/yr). This leaves $3,356 per month in disposable income, indicating a moderate standard of living. Jersey City's cost of living is 39% above the national average.

Overall, a Materials Scientists earning $116,480 in Jersey City falls into a moderate lifestyle tier and can cover essentials and hit modest savings goals, though discretionary spending warrants careful planning. With a cost index of 139, Jersey City is 39% more expensive than the national average, which compresses real 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 Jersey City continue to evolve.