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Engineering

Materials Engineers

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.

Median salary

$108,310

Typical range

$68k – $172k

Job outlook

+6% (faster than average)

AI exposure

Plan a path to Materials Engineers

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Education

Typical entry: Bachelor's degree

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Typical progression

  1. Materials Engineers Intern

    Internship

    $36,000

    ~4 mos to advance

  2. Junior Materials Engineers

    Entry / Junior

    $68,040

    ~2 yrs to advance

  3. Materials Engineers

    Established

    $108,310

    ~3 yrs to advance

  4. Senior Materials Engineers

    Senior

    $140,155

Internships are a common on-ramp here — they speed up landing that first role and improve your odds, which is why the Safe and High-ceiling plans build one in.

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.
  • •Design and direct the testing or control of processing procedures.
  • •Monitor material performance, and evaluate its deterioration.
  • •Conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.
  • •Evaluate technical specifications and economic factors relating to process or product design objectives.

Fields of study

Any field

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