Materials Engineering - Materials Engineer Career |
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Nature of Materials Engineer Work |
Materials engineers are involved in the development, processing, and testing of the materials used to create a range of products, from computer chips and aircraft wings to golf clubs and snow skis. They work with metals, ceramics, plastics, semiconductors, and composites to create new materials that meet certain mechanical, electrical, and chemical requirements. They also are involved in selecting materials for new applications. Materials engineers have developed the ability to create and then study materials at an atomic level, using advanced processes to replicate the characteristics of materials and their components with computers. Most materials engineers specialize in a particular material. For example, metallurgical engineers specialize in metals such as steel, and ceramic engineers develop ceramic materials and the processes for making them into useful products such as glassware or fiber optic communication lines.
Materials Engineer Career Job Outlook |
Materials engineers are expected to have employment growth of 4 percent over the projections decade, slower than the average for all occupations. Although employment is expected to decline in many of the manufacturing industries in which materials engineers are concentrated, growth should be strong for materials engineers working on nanomaterials and biomaterials. As manufacturing firms contract for their materials engineering needs, employment growth is expected in professional, scientific, and technical services industries also.
Materials Engineer Salaries |
Earnings for engineers vary significantly by specialty, industry, and education. Variation in median earnings and in the earnings distributions for engineers in various specialties is especially significant. Table 2 shows wage-and-salary earnings distributions in May 2006 for engineers in specialties covered in this statement.
Table 2: Earnings distribution by engineering specialty, May 2006
| Specialty |
Lowest 10% |
Lowest 25% |
Median |
Highest 25% |
Highest 10% |
| Aerospace engineers |
59,610 |
71,360 |
87,610 |
106,450 |
124,550 |
| Agricultural engineers |
42,390 |
53,040 |
66,030 |
80,370 |
96,270 |
| Biomedical engineers |
44,930 |
56,420 |
73,930 |
93,420 |
116,330 |
| Chemical engineers |
50,060 |
62,410 |
78,860 |
98,100 |
118,670 |
| Civil engineers |
44,810 |
54,520 |
68,600 |
86,260 |
104,420 |
| Computer hardware engineers |
53,910 |
69,500 |
88,470 |
111,030 |
135,260 |
| Electrical engineers |
49,120 |
60,640 |
75,930 |
94,050 |
115,240 |
| Electronics engineers, except computer |
52,050 |
64,440 |
81,050 |
99,630 |
119,900 |
| Environmental engineers |
43,180 |
54,150 |
69,940 |
88,480 |
106,230 |
| Health and safety engineers |
41,050 |
51,630 |
66,290 |
83,240 |
100,160 |
| Industrial engineers |
44,790 |
55,060 |
68,620 |
84,850 |
100,980 |
| Marine engineers and naval architects |
45,200 |
56,280 |
72,990 |
90,790 |
113,320 |
| Materials engineers |
46,120 |
57,850 |
73,990 |
92,210 |
112,140 |
| Mechanical engineers |
45,170 |
55,420 |
69,850 |
87,550 |
104,900 |
| Mining and geological engineers |
42,040 |
54,390 |
72,160 |
94,110 |
128,410 |
| Nuclear engineers |
65,220 |
77,920 |
90,220 |
105,710 |
124,510 |
| Petroleum engineers |
57,960 |
75,880 |
98,380 |
123,130 |
Over 145,600 |
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Table 3: Average starting salary by engineering specialty and degree , 2007
| Curriculum |
Bachelor's |
Master's |
Ph.D. |
| Aerospace/aeronautical/astronautical |
$53,408 |
$62,459 |
$73,814 |
| Agricultural |
49,764 |
|
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| Architectural |
48,664 |
|
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| Bioengineering and biomedical |
51,356 |
59,240 |
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| Chemical |
59,361 |
68,561 |
73,667 |
| Civil |
48,509 |
48,280 |
62,275 |
| Computer |
56,201 |
60,000 |
92,500 |
| Electrical/electronics and communications |
55,292 |
66,309 |
75,982 |
| Environmental/environmental health |
47,960 |
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| Industrial/manufacturing |
55,067 |
64,759 |
77,364 |
| Materials |
56,233 |
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| Mechanical |
54,128 |
62,798 |
72,763 |
| Mining and mineral |
54,381 |
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| Nuclear |
56,587 |
59,167 |
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| Petroleum |
60,718 |
57,000 |
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Footnotes:
(NOTE) Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers
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