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Metallurgical Engineering

Types of Degrees Metallurgical Engineering Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Metallurgical Engineering can earn degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Associate’s Degree	1
Bachelor’s Degree	125
Master’s Degree	29
Doctor’s Degree	9

What Metallurgical Engineering Majors Need to Know

Studies in Metallurgical Engineering emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Metallurgical Engineering graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Metallurgical Engineering emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Engineering and Technology — Importance 4.7 / 5; level 6.0 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 5.6 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 5.4 / 7.
• Design — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set developed in a Metallurgical Engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Speaking — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Metallurgical Engineering careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 5.1 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Speech Clarity — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Metallurgical Engineering graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.5 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.5 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.4 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.4 / 7
Processing Information	4.3 / 7
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Working with Computers	4.3 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	4.3 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.1 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.0 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Metallurgical Engineering professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Python	Object or component oriented development software	—
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Oracle Java	Object or component oriented development software	—
Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management	Project management software	—
Microsoft Project	Project management software	—
Computer aided design CAD software	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Email software	Electronic mail software	—
Dassault Systemes SolidWorks	Computer aided design CAD software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Metallurgical Engineering graduates include:

• Sanitary Engineering Teacher
• Engineering Lecturer
• Surveying Teacher
• Applied Mechanics Teacher
• Agricultural Engineering Teacher
• Design Teacher
• Adjunct Instructor
• Marine Engineering Professor
• Heat Engineering Teacher
• Adjunct Professor
• Electronic Science Teacher
• Aeronautical Engineering Teacher
• Research Professor
• College Professor
• Ship Construction Teacher

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Metallurgical Engineering graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Doctoral degree	40.6%
Bachelor’s degree	17.5%
Post-master’s certificate	12.8%
Master’s degree	12.2%
Post-doctoral training	12.1%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	1.3%
First professional degree	1.2%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	1.0%
Postsecondary certificate	1.0%
High school diploma or equivalent	0.3%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Metallurgical Engineering?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 73.8% of Metallurgical Engineering degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	43	26.2%
Men	121	73.8%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Metallurgical Engineering graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	109	66.5%
Asian	3	1.8%
Hispanic or Latino	21	12.8%
Black or African American	3	1.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native	1	0.6%
Two or More Races	5	3.0%
Race Unknown	7	4.3%
International Students	15	9.1%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Metallurgical Engineering Graduates Earn?

College Scorecard reports median earnings of Metallurgical Engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$74,103
4 years	$85,392
5 years	$90,051

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $90,051 — roughly 22% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Metallurgical Engineering Worth It?

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Metallurgical Engineering graduates earn a median of $85,392 four years after completion — roughly 125% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Engineering	197,615
Mechanical Engineering	42,939
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering	26,760
Civil Engineering	20,005
Computer Engineering	19,986
Biomedical/Medical Engineering	13,914
Engineering, General	13,411
Chemical Engineering	10,939
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering	9,596
Industrial Engineering	8,533
Systems Engineering	3,956
Engineering, Other	3,529

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.