# Materials Engineers

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/materials-engineers
- SOC code: 17-2131.00
- Career family: Architecture and engineering
- Median annual pay: $112,860 (10th percentile $72,300, 90th percentile $175,720)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +7.5%
- Openings a year: 1,300
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RIC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 81 |
| Investigative (I) | 80 |
| Artistic (A) | 26 |
| Social (S) | 6 |
| Enterprising (E) | 18 |
| Conventional (C) | 52 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 88/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 87/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 84/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 84/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 82/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 81/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 79/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 79/100)
- Processing Information (importance 78/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 76/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Mathematics, Reading Comprehension, Science, Speaking, Writing, Active Learning, Judgment and Decision Making

## Knowledge

Engineering and Technology, Mathematics, Production and Processing, Physics, English Language, Chemistry, Computers and Electronics, Design, Mechanical, Education and Training

## Also called

Automotive Sheet Metal Engineer, Ceramic Design Engineer, Ceramic Engineer, Ceramic Research Engineer, Ceramics Test Engineer, Characterization Engineer, Corrosion Engineer, Extractive Metallurgist, Extrusion Engineer, Failure Analysis Engineer

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Materials Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1418) (CIP 1418, 120 colleges)
- Polymer/Plastics Engineering (CIP 1432, 18 colleges)
- Metallurgical Engineering (CIP 1420, 13 colleges)
- Ceramic Sciences and Engineering (CIP 1406, 6 colleges)
- Textile Sciences and Engineering (CIP 1428, 4 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Purdue University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/purdue-university-main-campus-2163) | Materials Engineering | $79,562 | $107,557 | $16,974 |
| [University of California-Irvine UCI](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-irvine-uci-2883) | Materials Engineering | $76,070 | $106,547 | not reported |
| [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo SLO](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo-slo-360) | Materials Engineering | $77,737 | $100,599 | $18,500 |
| [University of Massachusetts-Lowell](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-massachusetts-lowell-2953) | Polymer/Plastics Engineering | $80,343 | $100,428 | $26,945 |
| [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor-main-campus-2956) | Materials Engineering | $83,880 | $98,879 | $20,376 |
| [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-illinois-at-urbana-champaign-main-campus-2927) | Materials Engineering | $75,772 | $97,924 | $20,500 |
| [University of Maryland-College Park Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-maryland-college-park-main-campus-2949) | Materials Engineering | $74,976 | $97,714 | not reported |
| [Michigan State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/michigan-state-university-1677) | Materials Engineering | $80,657 | $95,761 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Materials Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/materials-scientists): $117,790 median pay
- [Chemical Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chemical-engineers): $125,040 median pay
- [Manufacturing Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/manufacturing-engineers): $102,440 median pay
- [Industrial Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-engineers): $102,440 median pay
- [Mechanical Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mechanical-engineers): $104,110 median pay
- [Nanosystems Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/nanosystems-engineers): $122,930 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.