How to Become a Materials Engineer
Develop and test the metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites that every other engineering field builds with. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $112,860 per year and faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$112,860/yr
Middle half
$88,080 to $142,720
Job growth
Faster than average
Openings / yr
1,500
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Materials Characterization
- Failure Analysis
- Science
- Mathematics
- Critical Thinking
Helpful certifications
- FE/PE (Professional Engineer)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
17/100
Work-life balance
55/100
Stress level
46/100
Related careers
- Computer Hardware Engineer$161,740 median
- Petroleum Engineer$144,910 median
- Aerospace Engineer$134,960 median
- Nuclear Engineer$133,970 median
- Chemical Engineer$125,040 median
- Electrical Engineer$120,630 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Materials Engineer make?
The median pay for a Materials Engineer is $112,860 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $88,080 and $142,720 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Materials Engineer?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.
Is Materials Engineer a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 1,500 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Materials Engineer use most?
Common skills for this role are Materials Characterization, Failure Analysis, Science, Mathematics, and Critical Thinking.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).