With a national median of $112,860 and +5.7% projected job growth through 2034, Materials Engineer offers both strong financial return and stable long-term demand.
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.
Also known as:
Materials Engineer earn $112,860 nationally, well above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $88,080 and $142,720. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
Well above average for college graduates.
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Materials Engineer roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
The BLS projects +5.7% employment change for Materials Engineer through 2034, roughly in line with the national average of +5%. About 1,500 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
About as fast as average.
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
The five states below employ the most Materials Engineer professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $112,860 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 2,760 | $127,550 | +13.0% |
| 2 | Ohio | 1,770 | $106,060 | -6.0% |
| 3 | Texas | 1,730 | $116,170 | +2.9% |
| 4 | Washington | 1,240 | $140,810 | +24.8% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 1,060 | $111,030 | -1.6% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
Most Materials Engineer positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The 5 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Materials Engineering | 3,397 | $91,449 | 115 |
| 2 | Textile Sciences and Engineering | 292 | $71,837 | 4 |
| 3 | Polymer Engineering | 290 | $92,919 | 19 |
| 4 | Metallurgical Engineering | 195 | $92,722 | 11 |
| 5 | Ceramic Sciences and Engineering | 60 | $83,947 | 5 |
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 2 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| 3 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 4 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA | 92 | $14,251 | $80,735 |
| 5 | Stanford University Stanford, CA | 92 | $13,807 | $124,080 |
| 6 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA | 91 | $12,116 | $102,772 |
Once you've sized up Materials Engineer, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
See if the degree that leads to Materials Engineer pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Strong earnings and growing demand make Materials Engineer a compelling path. The 3 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.
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