Please enable javascript to play this video. Quick Facts: Materials Engineers $94,610 per year $45.48 per hour Bachelor's degree None None 27,000 2% (Slower than average) 400 Materials engineers develop, process, and test materials used to create a wide range of products, from computer chips and aircraft wings to golf clubs and biomedical devices. They study the properties and structures of metals, ceramics, plastics, composites, nanomaterials (extremely small substances), and other substances in order to create new materials that meet certain mechanical, electrical, and chemical requirements. Materials engineers generally work in offices where they have access to computers and design equipment. Others work in factories or research and development laboratories. Materials engineers typically work full time and may work overtime hours when necessary.
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Materials engineers must have a bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering or in a related engineering field. Completing internships and cooperative engineering programs while in school can be helpful in getting hired as a materials engineer. The median annual wage for materials engineers was $94,610 in May 2017. Employment of materials engineers is projected to grow 2 percent from 2016 to 2026, slower than the average for all occupations. Materials engineers will be needed to design uses for new materials both in traditional industries, such as aerospace manufacturing, and in industries focused on new medical or scientific products.
However, most materials engineers work in manufacturing industries, many of which are expected to have declines or little change in employment. Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for materials engineers.
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of materials engineers with similar occupations. Learn more about materials engineers by visiting additional resources, including O.NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations. Materials engineers work with metals, ceramics, and plastics to create new materials.
Materials engineers develop, process, and test materials used to create a range of products, from computer chips and aircraft wings to golf clubs and biomedical devices. They study the properties and structures of metals, ceramics, plastics, composites, nanomaterials (extremely small substances), and other substances in order to create new materials that meet certain mechanical, electrical, and chemical requirements. They also help select materials for specific products and develop new ways to use existing materials.
Materials engineers may work in laboratories or industrial settings to observe the results of their research and development. Materials engineers held about 27,000 jobs in 2016. The largest employers of materials engineers were as follows: Transportation equipment manufacturing 16% Computer and electronic product manufacturing 14 Primary metal manufacturing 8 Engineering services 8 Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences 8 Materials engineers often work in offices where they have access to computers and design equipment.
Others work in factories or research and development laboratories. Materials engineers may work in teams with scientists and engineers from other backgrounds. Work Schedules Materials engineers generally work full time. About 1 out of 3 materials engineers worked more than 40 hours per week in 2016. Materials engineers plan and evaluate new projects, consulting with others as necessary.
Materials engineers must have a bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering or in a related engineering field. Completing internships and cooperative engineering programs while in school can be helpful in getting a position as a materials engineer. Education Students interested in studying materials engineering should take high school courses in math, such as algebra, trigonometry, and calculus; in science, such as biology, chemistry, and physics; and in computer programming. Entry-level jobs as a materials engineer require a bachelor’s degree.
Bachelor’s degree programs include classroom and laboratory work focusing on engineering principles. Some colleges and universities offer a 5-year program leading to both a bachelor’s and master’s degree. A graduate degree allows an engineer to work as a or to do research and development. Many colleges and universities offer internships and cooperative programs in partnership with industry.
In these programs, students gain practical experience while completing their education. Many engineering programs are accredited. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have graduated from an accredited program. A degree from an ABET-accredited program is usually necessary to become a licensed professional engineer. Important Qualities Analytical skills. Materials engineers often work on projects related to other fields of engineering.
They must determine how materials will be used and how they must be structured to withstand different conditions. Materials engineers use the principles of calculus and other advanced topics in math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work. Problem-solving skills. Materials engineers must understand the relationship between materials’ structures, their properties, how they are made, and how these factors affect the products they are used to make. They must also figure out why a product might have failed, design a solution, and then conduct tests to make sure that the product does not fail again. These skills involve being able to identify root causes when many factors could be at fault.
Speaking skills. While working with technicians, technologists, and other engineers, materials engineers must state concepts and directions clearly.
When speaking with managers, these engineers must also communicate engineering concepts to people who may not have an engineering background. Writing skills. Materials engineers must write plans and reports clearly so that people without a materials engineering background can understand the concepts.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations Licensure for materials engineers is not as common as it is for other engineering occupations, nor it is required for entry-level positions. A Professional Engineering (PE) license, which allows for higher levels of leadership and independence, can be acquired later in one’s career. Licensed engineers are called professional engineers (PEs). A PE can oversee the work of other engineers, sign off on projects, and provide services directly to the public. State licensure generally requires. A degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program. A passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam.
Relevant work experience, typically at least 4 years. A passing score on the Professional Engineering (PE) exam The initial FE exam can be taken after earning a bachelor’s degree. Engineers who pass this exam are commonly called engineers in training (EITs) or engineer interns (EIs).
After meeting work experience requirements, EITs and EIs can take the second exam, called the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE). Each state issues its own licenses. Most states recognize licensure from other states, as long as the licensing state’s requirements meet or exceed their own licensure requirements. Several states require continuing education for engineers to keep their licenses. Certification in the field of metallography, the science and art of dealing with the structure of metals and alloys, is available through and other materials science organizations.
Additional training in fields directly related to metallurgy and materials’ properties, such as corrosion or failure analysis, is available through ASM International. Other Experience During high school, students can attend to see what these and other engineers do. Attending these camps can help students plan their coursework for the remainder of their time in high school.
Advancement Junior materials engineers usually work under the supervision of experienced engineers. In large companies, new engineers may receive formal training in classrooms or seminars. As engineers gain knowledge and experience, they move on to more difficult projects where they have greater independence to develop designs, solve problems, and make decisions. Eventually, materials engineers may advance to become technical specialists or to supervise a team of engineers and technicians. Many become engineering managers or move into other managerial positions or sales work. An engineering background is useful in sales because it enables sales engineers to discuss a product’s technical aspects and assist in product planning, installation, and use. For more information, see the profiles on.
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics The median annual wage for materials engineers was $94,610 in May 2017. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $57,080, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $149,860.
In May 2017, the median annual wages for materials engineers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows: Computer and electronic product manufacturing $109,180 Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences 108,410 Transportation equipment manufacturing 102,620 Engineering services 88,580 Primary metal manufacturing 79,430 Most materials engineers work full time. About 1 out of 3 materials engineers worked more than 40 hours per week in 2016. Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program Employment of materials engineers is projected to grow 2 percent from 2016 to 2026, slower than the average for all occupations. Materials engineers will be needed to design new materials for use both in traditional industries, such as aerospace manufacturing, and in industries focused on new medical or scientific products.
However, most materials engineers work in manufacturing industries, many of which are expected to have declines or little change in employment. Demand for materials engineers is expected to come from growing fields, such as biomedical engineering and three-dimensional printing. For example, materials engineers’ expertise is crucial in helping biomedical engineers develop new materials for medical implants.
Research and development firms will increasingly employ materials engineers as they explore new uses for materials technology in consumer products, industrial processes, and medicine. Job Prospects Prospects should be best for applicants who gained experience by participating in internships or co-op programs while in college. Computer modeling and simulations, rather than extensive and costly laboratory testing, are increasingly being used to predict the performance of new materials. Thus, those with a background in computer modeling should have better employment opportunities. Employment projections data for materials engineers, 2016-26 Occupational Title SOC Code Employment, 2016 Projected Employment, 2026 Change, 2016-26 Employment by Industry Percent Numeric SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program Materials engineers 17-2131 27,000 27,500 2 400.
State & Area Data Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) The (OES) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Projections Central Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state.
In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. CareerOneStop CareerOneStop includes hundreds of with data available by state and metro area.
There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a to search for wages by zip code. Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of materials engineers. Occupation Job Duties ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION 2017 MEDIAN PAY Aerospace engineers design primarily aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. In addition, they create and test prototypes to make sure that they function according to design.
Bachelor's degree $113,030 Architectural and engineering managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities in architectural and engineering companies. Bachelor's degree $137,720 Biomedical engineers combine engineering principles with medical sciences to design and create equipment, devices, computer systems, and software used in healthcare. Bachelor's degree $88,040 Chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry, biology, physics, and math to solve problems that involve the production or use of chemicals, fuel, drugs, food, and many other products. They design processes and equipment for large-scale manufacturing, plan and test production methods and byproducts treatment, and direct facility operations. Bachelor's degree $102,160 Chemists and materials scientists study substances at the atomic and molecular levels and analyze the ways in which the substances interact with one another.
They use their knowledge to develop new and improved products and to test the quality of manufactured goods. Bachelor's degree $76,280 Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacturing of electrical equipment, such as electric motors, radar and navigation systems, communications systems, and power generation equipment. Electronics engineers design and develop electronic equipment, including broadcast and communications systems, such as portable music players and Global Positioning System (GPS) devices.
Bachelor's degree $97,970 Mechanical engineers design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices, including tools, engines, and machines. Bachelor's degree $85,880 Physicists and astronomers study the ways in which various forms of matter and energy interact.
Theoretical physicists and astronomers may study the nature of time or the origin of the universe. Some physicists design and perform experiments with sophisticated equipment such as particle accelerators, electron microscopes, and lasers. Doctoral or professional degree $117,220 Sales engineers sell complex scientific and technological products or services to businesses.
They must have extensive knowledge of the products’ parts and functions and must understand the scientific processes that make these products work. Bachelor's degree $98,720. Pay The Pay tab describes typical earnings and how workers in the occupation are compensated—annual salaries, hourly wages, commissions, tips, or bonuses. Within every occupation, earnings vary by experience, responsibility, performance, tenure, and geographic area. For most profiles, this tab has a table with wages in the major industries employing the occupation.
It does not include pay for self-employed workers, agriculture workers, or workers in private households because these data are not collected by the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey, the source of BLS wage data in the OOH.