Profession · Full profile

Materials Engineer

Develop, test, and select metals, ceramics, and polymers for industrial products and manufacturing.

Average salary

$112,860

Salary range

$72,300 – $175,720

Training time

4 years full time

Job market

Much faster than average

9/10

Work-life balance

Good

7/10

Materials engineers choose and develop substances that give manufactured goods their essential physical traits. They test metals, plastics, ceramics, and composites for strength, weight, and durability. Operating in laboratories and industrial facilities, these professionals inspect failed components to diagnose defects and advise manufacturing teams on methods such as casting or heat treating. Their findings guide design teams, direct supplier standards, and ensure manufactured items hold up under stress in aerospace, automotive, electronics, and defense applications.

A workday

A day in the life

What does a workday really look like?

A regular weekday focused on testing material samples, analyzing microstructures, and documenting test data.

8:00 AM
Review test requests
Inspect incoming metal and polymer samples submitted by product design groups.
9:00 AM
Microscopy examination
Use optical and electron microscopes to examine grain structure and identify surface flaws.
11:00 AM
Mechanical testing
Run tensile and hardness tests on composite specimens to check strength limits.
12:30 PM
Lunch break
Midday rest away from the testing floor.
1:15 PM
Design team sync
Meet with mechanical engineers to present data on alloy performance under thermal stress.
2:30 PM
Statistical data analysis
Evaluate stress test numbers against internal quality thresholds.
4:00 PM
Report writing
Draft technical reports detailing test results and material recommendations.

Task breakdown

A busy operational day resolving a manufacturing defect on the factory floor and running root-cause analysis.

7:30 AM
Emergency plant walkthrough
Inspect cracked metal parts pulled directly from an active casting line.
9:00 AM
Production team meeting
Discuss furnace temperature logs and cooling rates with plant operators.
10:30 AM
Failure analysis testing
Perform chemical and microscopic tests to confirm whether fatigue or corrosion caused the fracture.
12:30 PM
Lunch break
Midday rest.
1:15 PM
Heat treatment adjustment
Work with processing staff to alter heat treatment parameters on the line.
3:00 PM
Supplier review call
Review raw metal specifications with alloy suppliers to avoid future impurities.
4:30 PM
Corrective action documentation
Log root-cause findings and issue updated processing standards for factory operators.

Salary data

What do you really earn?

Salary by experience, sector and region.

Minimum

$72,300

Average

$112,860

Maximum

$175,720

Salary by region

Region	Min	Avg.	Max
National	$72,300	$112,860	$175,720
California	$82,460	$128,470	$183,880
Ohio	$76,030	$106,510	$169,300
Texas	$67,690	$117,700	$187,460
Massachusetts	$77,980	$114,100	$167,180
Washington	$92,570	$139,840	$199,250

Typical benefits

Health and retirement plans

Standard employer-provided medical coverage alongside company retirement plans.

Tuition help for graduate study

Financial assistance from employers to help engineers complete master's or doctoral degrees.

Advanced technology exposure

Hands-on experience working with sophisticated microscopic tools, specialized furnaces, and high-performance alloys.

Paid time off and stable weekday hours

Predictable day shifts during the workweek along with regular paid leave.

Pathways

Education pathways

Which paths lead to this profession?

Bachelor's degree

4 years full time

Bachelor's degree in materials science and engineering or metallurgical engineering

Provides core training in materials science, characterization methods, and physical metallurgy. Employers frequently look for programs accredited by ABET. Some professionals enter the career holding related undergraduate degrees in chemical engineering or mechanical engineering.

Costs: About $11,950 a year in average published tuition and fees at a public four-year college for in-state students, and $45,000 at a private nonprofit four-year college
Entry requirements: High school diploma with strong math, chemistry and physics

Master's degree

1 to 2 years full time

Master's degree in materials science and engineering

Offers advanced coursework in material synthesis, characterization, and processing. This degree assists engineers pursuing technical specialist positions or research and development roles.

Entry requirements: Bachelor's degree in engineering or a physical science

Doctoral degree

4 to 6 years

PhD in materials science

Focuses on deep research, experimental design, and novel material synthesis. This qualification is common among professionals aiming for careers at federal research laboratories and university research facilities.

Entry requirements: Bachelor's or master's degree

Profile

Skills & personality

Is this a good fit for you?

Hard skills

Materials testing and characterizationRunning mechanical, chemical, and microscopic tests to measure material limits and physical behavior.
Electron and optical microscopyOperating high-resolution imaging instruments to study internal grain structures and microscopic surface defects.
Failure analysisDiagnosing why components break or degrade by inspecting fracture surfaces, fatigue wear, and corrosion.
Metallurgy and heat treatmentApplying metallurgical principles to alter metal properties through controlled heating, quenching, and casting.
Polymers and compositesFormulating, evaluating, and processing synthetic polymers and fiber-reinforced composite systems.
Statistical data analysisUsing statistical methods to evaluate test variance, ensure quality control, and validate material stability.

Soft skills

Analytical thinkingDissecting complex material test data and failure patterns to uncover underlying physical causes.
CuriosityExploring how unseen molecular structures influence macro-level behavior and durability.
TeamworkCoordinating smoothly with product designers, machine operators, and quality inspectors.
Clear writingDrafting precise material specifications, failure reports, and quality standards for technical colleagues.

Is this a good fit for you?

✓
MethodicalFollowing disciplined testing protocols and safety steps when handling chemicals or operating high-stress equipment.
✓
Detail-orientedCatching microscopic structural abnormalities, surface cracks, or chemical inconsistencies that compromise parts.
✓
InquisitiveAsking questions about how substances behave and searching for alternative formulations to improve performance.
✓
PracticalBalancing pure material performance against real-world production costs, manufacturing speeds, and supplier limits.
✓
Calm under pressureTroubleshooting urgent plant breakdowns and component cracking incidents without rushing root-cause evaluations.

Market

Job market & outlook

What does the market look like?

Openings per year

1,300

Trend

Growth

+7.5%

AI impact

4/10

AI models help predict material properties and speed up the search for new materials. Lab testing, failure investigations and engineering judgment stay human.

Regional demand

Massachusetts

Strong demand centered around advanced materials research, defense contracting, and high-tech manufacturing.

10/10

Ohio

High demand supported by primary metal production, automotive manufacturing, and industrial testing facilities.

10/10

Washington

High concentration of employers across aerospace manufacturing and advanced materials testing.

10/10

California

Demand driven by electronics, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing employers.

6/10

Texas

Opportunities located across energy, aerospace, and electronics manufacturing centers.

4/10

Growth

Career paths

Where can this profession take you?

Vertical growth

Entry-level materials engineer
0-2 years
Conducts standard mechanical and microscopic tests under supervision and prepares basic material evaluation reports.
Materials engineer
2-5 years
Directs independent testing projects, carries out failure investigations, and helps factory teams refine manufacturing processes.
Senior materials engineer
5-10 years
Leads complex development efforts, defines companywide material specifications, and coaches junior technical staff.
Engineering manager
10+ years
Supervises multi-disciplinary engineering departments, tracks budgets, and oversees major development initiatives.

Horizontal move

Mechanical engineer
Transitions material knowledge into the broader design, thermal modeling, and structural assembly of mechanical systems.
View Mechanical Engineer
Quality or reliability engineer
Applies metallurgical testing principles and root-cause expertise to manufacturing quality control and product life verification.

Good to know

Practical info

Working hours: Full time on a weekday schedule, with occasional overtime to solve production problems or meet project deadlines.
Remote work: Limited, since testing and plant work require being on site, though analysis and report writing can sometimes be done remotely.
Physical requirements: Office, laboratory and factory floor work, using microscopes and test equipment and sometimes wearing protective gear around furnaces or chemicals.
Typical employers: Aerospace and defense manufacturers, automotive manufacturers and suppliers, semiconductor and electronics companies, metal producers and processors, federal research laboratories, and engineering testing and consulting firms.
Professional associations: ASM International, The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What does a materials engineer do on a typical day?

A materials engineer tests substances, investigates broken parts, and works with manufacturing personnel to improve plant processes. Days involve operating microscopes, performing tensile and hardness tests on samples, analyzing statistical data, and writing material specifications for suppliers. Engineers also advise designers on choosing the right metals, plastics, or ceramics.

What degree is needed to become a materials engineer?

A bachelor's degree in materials science and engineering or metallurgical engineering is the standard requirement. High school students need preparation in math, chemistry, and physics. Employers often seek graduates from ABET-accredited degree programs, though candidates holding bachelor's degrees in chemical or mechanical engineering can also enter the field.

Can materials engineers work from home?

Remote work options are quite limited in this career. Physical presence is required on the factory floor and inside test laboratories to run microscopes, handle test samples, and inspect processing lines. Engineers can occasionally write test reports, review supplier specifications, or run statistical data analyses from a home office.

Do materials engineers need a professional license?

A Professional Engineer license is optional for most jobs in this discipline. The credential helps engineers who pursue consulting roles or advanced senior positions. In addition, materials engineers working for federal research laboratories or defense manufacturers may need to qualify for a government security clearance.

How is artificial intelligence changing materials engineering?

Artificial intelligence models help predict material properties and speed up searches for viable chemical formulations. Despite this computational capability, engineers must carry out physical laboratory validation themselves. Real-world testing, diagnosing failed parts through microscopy, and deciding plant process changes continue to require human technical evaluation.

What industries employ materials engineers?

Materials engineers work across aerospace and defense manufacturers, automotive producers, semiconductor companies, metal processors, and consulting testing firms. They also find positions inside federal research laboratories. Their work ensures substances used in vehicles, electronic devices, aircraft, and industrial machinery perform reliably under demanding operating conditions.

Explore further

Related professions

In depth

All about materials engineer

The background, context and details.

Core engineering responsibilities

Materials engineers evaluate how metals, plastics, ceramics, and composites behave under mechanical load and environmental stress. They run tests. When components crack during field service, engineers investigate failed specimens to determine root causes such as fatigue or corrosion. By examining fractured surfaces under optical and electron microscopes while evaluating mechanical data, specialists determine whether improper heat treatment or manufacturing flaws triggered an expensive component failure. They also write test reports and material specifications for suppliers. Details matter. Teamwork is essential.

Where materials engineers work

Employers span industries that depend on advanced material performance:

Aerospace and defense manufacturers
Automotive manufacturers and suppliers
Semiconductor and electronics companies
Metal producers and processors
Federal research laboratories
Engineering testing and consulting firms

Protective gear is required around furnaces and chemicals. Daily routines take engineers between research stations and noisy factory floors. Defense and government assignments frequently require a security clearance. Plant engineers sometimes receive emergency calls when casting or molding lines stall. Field conditions vary.

Day to day schedule and technology

Full-time weekday schedules are standard. Overtime occurs occasionally to solve urgent production problems or meet project deadlines. Because production machinery and delicate testing equipment require physical presence on site, materials engineers spend most of their working hours directly in production facilities rather than working from home. Remote work remains limited to data analysis and documentation. While modern artificial intelligence models can predict material properties to speed up research, human specialists must still conduct laboratory testing and apply technical judgment during failure investigations. Hands-on testing remains essential.

Educational path and qualifications

A bachelor's degree in materials science and engineering or metallurgical engineering serves as the primary educational path. High school students need preparation in physics and mathematics. Most employers prefer candidates from ABET-accredited programs, though degrees in mechanical engineering or chemical engineering also provide entry into the field. Because research and development positions demand deep specialized knowledge of material behavior, engineers targeting national laboratory careers often invest several additional years to complete a doctorate in materials science. Those pursuing consulting careers can obtain a Professional Engineer license to improve their advancement prospects.