We prove that for all integers k >= 1, there exists a constant Ck depending only on k, such that for all q > C-k, and for n = 1, 2 every matrix in Mn(F-q) is a sum of two kth powers and for all n >= 3 every matrix in Mn(F-q) is a sum of at most three kth powers. (C) 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.