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Materials Engineers in Oregon

Materials Engineers in Oregon

Want to work as a Materials Engineers in Oregon? Here’s what the data says. 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.

What do Materials Engineers Make in Oregon?

The materials engineers working in Oregon, wages run about $127,360 per year (or about $61.23/hour).Earnings range from $94,180 at the 10th percentile to $167,120 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic Annual Hourly
10th percentile $94,180 $45.28
25th percentile $106,740 $51.32
Median (50th) $127,360 $61.23
75th percentile $154,080 $74.08
90th percentile $167,120 $80.35
Salary ranges for Materials Engineers in Oregon

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Oregon compared to the national average — is 0.30, meaning fewer materials engineers per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, materials engineers earn a median of $52,129 per year ($25.06/hour), higher than the Oregon median.

Materials Engineers earnings in Oregon vs. the national average

Employment Outlook

There are roughly 43,114 materials engineers across the United States. In Oregon alone, around 90 people work in this role. That trails the typical state, which employs around 310 materials engineers.

Materials Engineers in Oregon vs. the average state Forecasted number of jobs for Materials Engineers

Top Oregon Metros for Materials Engineers

These are the Oregon metros with the most materials engineers in Oregon.

Metro Area Number Employed Annual Median Salary
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 70 $135,500

Top States for Materials Engineers Employment

These states have the highest employment of materials engineers work.

State Number Employed
California 2,760
Ohio 1,770
Texas 1,730
Washington 1,240
Massachusetts 1,060
Michigan 1,030
Maryland 960
Pennsylvania 780
North Carolina 770
New York 750
Florida 680
Alabama 660
Virginia 620
Georgia 550
Tennessee 550
Colorado 540
Utah 490
Indiana 470
South Carolina 440
Connecticut 400

Highest-Paying States for Materials Engineers

The highest-paying states for materials engineers.

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

Skills

Top materials engineers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Reading Comprehension  4.0 / 5
0
5
Active Listening  4.0 / 5
0
5
Science  4.0 / 5
0
5
Complex Problem Solving  4.0 / 5
0
5
Critical Thinking  3.9 / 5
0
5
Writing  3.8 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Engineering and Technology  4.3 / 5
0
5
Chemistry  4.2 / 5
0
5
Physics  4.2 / 5
0
5
Production and Processing  4.1 / 5
0
5
Mathematics  4.1 / 5
0
5
English Language  3.9 / 5
0
5

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for materials engineers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Oral Comprehension  4.0 / 5
0
5
Deductive Reasoning  4.0 / 5
0
5
Category Flexibility  4.0 / 5
0
5
Inductive Reasoning  4.0 / 5
0
5
Oral Expression  4.0 / 5
0
5
Written Comprehension  4.0 / 5
0
5

Daily Tasks

Materials Engineers typically:

  • 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.
  • Review new product plans, and make recommendations for material selection, based on design objectives such as strength, weight, heat resistance, electrical conductivity, and cost.
  • Supervise the work of technologists, technicians, and other engineers and scientists.
  • Plan and implement laboratory operations to develop material and fabrication procedures that meet cost, product specification, and performance standards.
  • Plan and evaluate new projects, consulting with other engineers and corporate executives, as necessary.

Work Activities

  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Analyzing Data or Information
  • Getting Information
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
  • Thinking Creatively
  • Working with Computers
  • Documenting/Recording Information
  • Processing Information
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Tools & Technology

Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Autodesk AutoCAD, C++ In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Several college majors map to this occupation:

  • Materials Engineering
  • Textile Engineering
  • Polymer & Plastics Engineering
  • Metallurgical Engineering
  • Ceramic Engineering

Related occupations to materials engineers include:

Also Known As

Automotive Sheet Metal Engineer, Ceramic Design Engineer, Ceramic Engineer, Ceramic Research Engineer, Ceramics Test Engineer, Corrosion Engineer, Design Engineer, Engineer, Extractive Metallurgist, Extrusion Engineer, Failure Analysis Engineer, Forensic Materials Engineer, Foundry Metallurgist, Foundry Process Engineer, Glass Science Engineer.

References

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