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Materials Engineers

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeLower pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Evaluate materials and develop machinery and processes to manufacture materials for use in products that must meet specialized design and performance specifications. Develop new uses for known materials. Includes those engineers working with composite materials or specializing in one type of material, such as graphite, metal and metal alloys, ceramics and glass, plastics and polymers, and naturally occurring materials. Includes metallurgists and metallurgical engineers, ceramic engineers, and welding engineers.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $112,860 Median per year · $54.26/hr Most earn $72,300–$175,720

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.
  • Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.
  • Determine appropriate methods for fabricating and joining materials.
  • Perform managerial functions, such as preparing proposals and budgets, analyzing labor costs, and writing reports.
  • Replicate the characteristics of materials and their components, using computers.
  • Evaluate technical specifications and economic factors relating to process or product design objectives.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
8% more jobs by 2035, much faster than average · about 1,300 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Aerospace product and parts manufacturing12.4%
  • Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences10.5%
  • Engineering services9.1%
  • Management of companies and enterprises6.8%
  • Federal government, excluding postal service5.8%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Materials engineering usually requires a bachelor's degree, and most people spend about 1 to 2 years in an entry-level engineering role before taking on the full Materials Engineer title. Plan on roughly 5 to 6 years from starting college to this career.

  1. Bachelor's degree in materials science and engineering (or metallurgical, ceramic, or a related engineering major)

    4 years

    You learn how the structure of metals, plastics, ceramics, and composites affects their strength and behavior, which is the core of this job.

  2. Process Engineer or Quality Engineer

    1-2 years

    In an entry-level role you test materials, watch production lines, and learn how materials perform in real products, which builds the experience employers expect.

  3. Materials Engineer

    Career goal

    You evaluate materials, design manufacturing processes, and find new uses for known materials to meet specific product requirements.

Where it can lead

  1. Senior Materials Engineer

    3-5 years of experience first

    You take on harder problems, lead projects, and mentor newer engineers, often becoming the go-to expert for a specific material or product line.

  2. Materials Engineering Manager

    5+ years of experience first

    You lead a team of engineers, set priorities and budgets, and work with other departments, which means shifting from hands-on technical work toward planning and people management.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take chemistry, physics, and the highest math level you canThese classes build the background you need for materials science and engineering courses in college.
  • Join a robotics, science fair, or engineering design clubBuilding and testing prototypes teaches you how different materials behave under stress and heat.
  • Look for a summer job or volunteer role at a workshop, machine shop, or manufacturing plantSeeing how parts and materials are made in real life helps you decide if this field fits you.
  • Explore your local community college or university engineering open housesTalking to engineering students and faculty gives you a clearer picture of what materials engineers do day to day.

In college

  • Major in materials science and engineering, or a closely related engineering majorA degree in this field is the usual entry point and covers the material properties and testing skills this career needs.
  • Get a lab or research assistant job in a materials or engineering departmentHands-on lab work teaches you testing methods and gives you experience to list on job applications.
  • Apply for internships at manufacturers or materials companiesInternships are often the best way to get the 1 to 2 years of related experience employers look for after graduation.
  • Join an engineering or materials student organizationStudent groups offer project teams, networking, and chances to meet working engineers.
  • Take courses in computer-aided design, data analysis, or statisticsModeling materials and analyzing test data are increasingly common tasks, so these skills make you a stronger candidate.

Tips for getting started

  • Take strong math and science classes, especially chemistry and physics, since they are the foundation for every materials engineering course.
  • Look for hands-on work like a campus lab job, a makerspace, or a summer job at a manufacturing plant, so you can see how materials are made and tested.
  • Practice writing and presenting clearly. Engineers in this field often explain test results to people who are not engineers.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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