How to become a Materials Engineer
Official title: Materials Engineers
Also called: Automotive Sheet Metal Engineer, Ceramic Engineer, Extrusion Engineer, Materials Development Engineer, Materials Research Engineer, Metallurgical Engineer, Metallurgist, Process Engineer, Textile Engineer
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.
Main 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.
How to become one
Materials engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in materials science and engineering or a related field. Employers also value practical experience, which students sometimes gain through internships.
Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Foundry Metallurgist.
- Apprenticeship: Materials Engineer.
- College: Engineering degrees, Offered by 36 universities in the US
- Licence: A licence is required in 47 states.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $112,860 a year The middle half earn $88,080 to $142,720.
- About 23,800 people work in this job now, and about 25,600 are projected by 2035. (+7.5%)
- People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.
Related jobs
- Transportation Engineers
- Water/Wastewater Engineers
- Environmental Engineers
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
- Aerospace Engineers
- Agricultural Engineers
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Materials Engineer?
Materials engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in materials science and engineering or a related field. Employers also value practical experience, which students sometimes gain through internships.
How much does a Materials Engineer earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $112,860 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $88,080 to $142,720.
Is a Materials Engineer a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 8% by 2035, from about 23,800 to about 25,600 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Materials Engineer?
Usually. 79% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of a Materials Engineer?
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the 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. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.