# Materials Engineers

SOC 17-2131. Page: https://educationguide.com/careers/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.

## Pay and outlook
- U.S. median wage $112,860 (middle half $88,080–$142,720; BLS May 2025)
- Ages 25-34: median $92,873; 91% hold a bachelor's or higher (Census ACS 2020-2024)
- Jobs 2025-35: 7.5%; ~1.3k openings a year; typical entry: Bachelor's degree

## Fields of degree of young workers (ages 25-34, bachelor's+)
- Mechanical Engineering: 23% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/mechanical-engineering)
- Chemical Engineering: 11% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/chemical-engineering)
- Electrical Engineering: 8% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/electrical-engineering)
- Materials Science: 6%
- Materials Engineering And Materials Science: 5% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/materials-engineering)
- Industrial And Manufacturing Engineering: 4% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/industrial-engineering)
- General Engineering: 3% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/engineering)
- Chemistry: 3% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/chemistry)
- Aerospace Engineering: 3% (https://educationguide.com/degrees/aerospace-aeronautical-and-astronautical-space-engineering)
- Metallurgical Engineering: 2%

## Median wage by state
- AK: $123,360
- AL: $107,580
- AR: $103,900
- AZ: $106,810
- CA: $128,470
- CO: $124,030
- CT: $122,300
- DE: $131,320
- FL: $118,780
- GA: $100,840
- IA: $64,270
- ID: $105,820
- IL: $126,620
- IN: $101,120
- KS: $100,000
- KY: $100,620
- LA: $128,670
- MA: $114,100
- MD: $140,640
- ME: $97,110
- MI: $94,050
- MN: $106,220
- MO: $98,860
- MS: $78,700
- MT: $76,030
- NC: $104,240
- NE: $98,270
- NH: $101,290
- NJ: $106,920
- NM: $165,600
- NV: $99,010
- NY: $125,900
- OH: $106,510
- OK: $99,950
- OR: $122,850
- PA: $98,030
- RI: $87,180
- SC: $121,610
- TN: $91,940
- TX: $117,700
- UT: $88,080
- VA: $116,720
- WA: $139,840
- WI: $96,210
- WY: $110,970

Method: https://educationguide.com/how-we-score#careers

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