Materials Engineers
Also called: Automotive Sheet Metal Engineer, Ceramic Design Engineer, Ceramic Engineer, Ceramic Research Engineer, Ceramics Test Engineer, Characterization Engineer, Corrosion Engineer, Extractive Metallurgist
Evaluate materials and develop machinery and processes to manufacture materials for use in products that must meet specialized design and performance specifications.
What materials engineers do
Typical tasks
- Conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.
- Review new product plans, and make recommendations for material selection, based on design objectives such as strength, weight, heat resistance, electrical conductivity, and cost.
- Evaluate technical specifications and economic factors relating to process or product design objectives.
- Solve problems in a number of engineering fields, such as mechanical, chemical, electrical, civil, nuclear, and aerospace.
- Plan and implement laboratory operations to develop material and fabrication procedures that meet cost, product specification, and performance standards.
- Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.
- Determine appropriate methods for fabricating and joining materials.
- Guide technical staff in developing materials for specific uses in projected products or devices.
- Design and direct the testing or control of processing procedures.
- Plan and evaluate new projects, consulting with other engineers and corporate executives, as necessary.
- Supervise the work of technologists, technicians, and other engineers and scientists.
- Supervise production and testing processes in industrial settings, such as metal refining facilities, smelting or foundry operations, or nonmetallic materials production operations.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Materials Engineers salary
The median annual wage for materials engineers is $112,860 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $72,300 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $175,720. The mean annual wage is $120,250.
The mean hourly wage of $57.00 is 7.9× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Materials Engineers (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $112,860 → in 3 years $121,900 → in 5 years $128,300 → in 10 years $146,000 (10-year range $125,500–$169,500). The model assumes pay growth of +2.6% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Materials Engineers
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Materials Engineers? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Materials Engineers
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Materials Engineers United States | 非鉄金属製錬技術者 Japan | 陶磁器技術者 Japan | ファインセラミックス製造技術者 Japan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $112,860 | ¥6.07M ≈ $38,597 | ¥6.12M ≈ $38,915 | ¥6.12M ≈ $38,915 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $146,000 | ¥7.31M | ¥7.65M | ¥7.48M |
| Outlook score | 57 | 46 | 57 | 51 |
| AI replacement risk | 69% High | 60% Moderate | 38% Low | 55% Moderate |
| Workers | 23K | — | — | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Materials Engineers
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 4 — considerable preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★★☆☆ Moderate (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become materials engineers
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as materials engineers
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.