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Materials Scientists

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeModerate pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Research and study the structures and chemical properties of various natural and synthetic or composite materials, including metals, alloys, rubber, ceramics, semiconductors, polymers, and glass. Determine ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials with new or specific properties for use in a variety of products and applications. Includes glass scientists, ceramic scientists, metallurgical scientists, and polymer scientists.

Kinds of work

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

Moderate 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 $117,790 Median per year · $56.63/hr Most earn $66,820–$197,290

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Determine ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials with new or specific properties for use in a variety of products and applications.
  • Supervise and monitor production processes to ensure efficient use of equipment, timely changes to specifications, and project completion within time frame and budget.
  • Perform experiments and computer modeling to study the nature, structure, and physical and chemical properties of metals and their alloys, and their responses to applied forces.
  • Test individual parts and products to ensure that manufacturer and governmental quality and safety standards are met.
  • Conduct research on the structures and properties of materials, such as metals, alloys, polymers, and ceramics, to obtain information that could be used to develop new products or enhance existing ones.
  • Teach in colleges and universities.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
8% more jobs by 2035, much faster than average · about 600 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

  • Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences31.0%
  • Chemical manufacturing8.8%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools8.6%
  • Management of companies and enterprises6.3%
  • Testing laboratories and services5.8%

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

Experience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

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: 6 months to 1 year

Materials Scientist is a career you can start after a bachelor's degree, usually with about 6 months to 1 year of related lab or research experience first. Most people reach it roughly 4 to 5 years after starting college. Pay varies a lot by location and employer, so you can check the typical pay near you on the career's page.

  1. Bachelor's degree in materials science, chemistry, or chemical engineering

    4 years

    You learn how atoms and molecules form metals, ceramics, polymers, and glass, and you practice lab work that builds the base for research jobs.

  2. Materials Research Assistant or Laboratory Technician

    6 months to 1 year

    You help run experiments, test samples, and record data under a senior scientist, which builds the hands-on skills employers look for.

  3. Materials Scientist

    Ongoing

    You plan your own research, study how materials behave, and develop new or improved materials for products and applications.

Where it can lead

  1. Materials Engineer

    1-2 years of experience first

    You shift from studying materials to designing how they are made and used in products and factories, often with more focus on production and performance.

  2. Nanosystems Engineer

    2-4 years of experience first

    You work on very small-scale materials and devices, which usually requires a doctoral or professional degree and more years of research experience.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take chemistry, physics, and advanced mathThese classes give you the core knowledge about matter, energy, and calculations that materials science is built on.
  • Join a science or robotics clubWorking on team projects helps you practice experiments, problem-solving, and explaining your ideas.
  • Enter a science fairDesigning your own experiment, such as testing how different materials hold up under heat or weight, shows real research skills.
  • Look for a starter job or volunteer roleA job at a hardware store, a lab helper role at school, or volunteering at a science center builds reliability and interest in how things are made.

In college

  • Major in materials science, chemistry, or chemical engineeringA focused major gives you the lab and theory background that employers and graduate programs expect.
  • Get a research assistant position with a professorWorking in a campus lab gives you hands-on experience, which is usually needed before you can work as a materials scientist.
  • Apply for a summer internship at a manufacturer or labAn internship shows you how materials research is used in real products and helps you build a professional network.
  • Join a student engineering or science organizationClubs often host talks, projects, and competitions that help you practice teamwork and build your resume.
  • Take courses in statistics or programmingData analysis and basic coding help you process test results and model how materials will perform.

Tips for getting started

  • Get lab experience early. Employers often care more about hands-on research than your grades alone, so look for research assistant or lab helper jobs during school.
  • Learn to write clearly and present your results. Materials scientists share findings in reports, papers, and meetings, so writing and speaking skills matter.
  • Talk with people who work in materials science, such as a professor, a local engineer, or a company's R&D team, to learn what their days look like.

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

  • Apparel and Textiles Bachelor's degree: typical pay 1 year after finishing $44,266 a year · typical debt $20,761
  • Materials Sciences Bachelor's degree: typical pay 1 year after finishing $79,176 a year · typical debt $21,670

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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