Materials Engineers: Job Description
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.
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What Do Materials Engineers Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of materials engineers cover:
- 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.
- Modify properties of metal alloys, using thermal and mechanical treatments.
- Determine appropriate methods for fabricating and joining materials.
- Guide technical staff in developing materials for specific uses in projected products or devices.
What Materials Engineers Need to Know
Top materials engineers draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Materials Engineers Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Automotive Sheet Metal Engineer
- Ceramic Design Engineer
- Ceramic Engineer
- Ceramic Research Engineer
- Ceramics Test Engineer
- Corrosion Engineer
- Design Engineer
- Engineer
Job Outlook
There are roughly 43,114 materials engineers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to decline by -4.9% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Materials Engineers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $52,129 |
| Hourly median | $25.06 |
| 10th percentile | $36,242 |
| 25th percentile | $44,186 |
| 75th percentile | $60,073 |
| 90th percentile | $68,017 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $140,810 |
| Maryland | $130,920 |
| Delaware | $127,640 |
| California | $127,550 |
| Oregon | $127,360 |
| New York | $121,980 |
| Colorado | $121,430 |
| Alaska | $120,540 |
| Texas | $116,170 |
| Wyoming | $114,370 |
| Massachusetts | $111,030 |
| South Carolina | $110,730 |
| Alabama | $110,150 |
| Tennessee | $108,670 |
| Arizona | $108,260 |
| Minnesota | $106,430 |
| Virginia | $106,290 |
| Ohio | $106,060 |
| Illinois | $105,980 |
| New Hampshire | $105,840 |
| Kentucky | $105,090 |
| Connecticut | $104,390 |
| Florida | $104,040 |
| Idaho | $101,750 |
| Oklahoma | $101,100 |
| Louisiana | $100,990 |
| Montana | $100,600 |
| Arkansas | $100,330 |
| New Jersey | $100,240 |
| Missouri | $99,160 |
| Indiana | $98,290 |
| West Virginia | $97,960 |
| Nevada | $97,580 |
| Georgia | $97,380 |
| Kansas | $97,200 |
| Michigan | $96,660 |
| Wisconsin | $96,650 |
| North Carolina | $95,640 |
| Vermont | $93,210 |
| Rhode Island | $92,180 |
| Mississippi | $90,700 |
| Pennsylvania | $89,160 |
| Maine | $89,140 |
| Utah | $85,720 |
| Nebraska | $84,540 |
| Iowa | $76,640 |
Where Materials Engineers Earn the Most
Pay for materials engineers differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $130,509 | 19.0% | 1.40 |
| Southwest | $113,404 | 10.4% | 0.84 |
| Middle Atlantic | $109,953 | 13.0% | 1.23 |
| New England | $107,021 | 7.7% | 1.73 |
| Rocky Mountains | $104,058 | 5.9% | 1.62 |
| Southeast | $103,781 | 22.1% | 1.09 |
| Great Lakes | $101,720 | 16.8% | 1.65 |
| Plains States | $92,066 | 5.2% | 0.96 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $151,260 | 480 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | TX | $147,080 | 440 |
| Boulder, CO | CO | $141,320 | 100 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $140,810 | 1,100 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $140,180 | 70 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $137,650 | 380 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | OH | $136,300 | 240 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $135,500 | 70 |
Industry Breakdown
Most materials engineers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 11,970 | $105,920 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5,590 | $108,630 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 1,570 | $113,870 |
| Wholesale Trade | 530 | $105,090 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 370 | $107,470 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 330 | $123,250 |
| Educational Services | 320 | $64,360 |
| Construction | 160 | $83,040 |
Materials Engineers work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: C++ (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Process mapping and design software: Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
- Development environment software: Microsoft Visual Basic (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for materials engineers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
Education and Training
Most materials engineers positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Architectural and Engineering Managers (Supplemental)
- Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers (Primary-Long)
- Chemical Engineers (Primary-Short)
- Electrical Engineers (Primary-Long)
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer (Supplemental)
- Industrial Engineers (Primary-Short)
- Manufacturing Engineers (Primary-Short)
- Mechanical Engineers (Primary-Short)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Future materials engineers typically earn programs in:
Engineering
5 programs across 5 majors
- Materials Engineering
- Textile Engineering
- Polymer & Plastics Engineering
- Metallurgical Engineering
- Ceramic Engineering
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 17-2131.00 (Materials Engineers).
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