Materials Sciences degree: salary, jobs & colleges
Bachelor's graduates in materials sciences earn a median $106,290 four years after finishing, across 2 U.S. colleges. At ages 25-34, people whose degree is in materials engineering and materials science earn $84,907, $22,858 more than all bachelor's holders. The most common job is other engineers (15%).
Median across 2 colleges; middle half $92,864–$119,715.
College Scorecard field of study (graduates who received federal aid)
Middle half $57,435–$106,601. 236 survey respondents.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata; field "Materials Engineering And Materials Science"; EducationGuide calculation
- All bachelor's, 25-34$62,049
- High school, 25-34$35,638
- This degree vs high school+$49,269/yr
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school
Median across colleges reporting.
College Scorecard field of study
Jobs materials sciences graduates hold
What employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in materials engineering and materials science actually do, with U.S. wages and the outlook for each job. The first column comes from the Census survey; wages and growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Job | Share of graduates | U.S. median wage | Jobs growth 2025-35 | Typical entry | Interests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Engineers | 15% | — | — | — | — |
| Materials Engineers | 11% | $112,860 | +7.5% | Bachelor's degree | RIC |
| Industrial Engineers, Including Health And Safety | 7% | $102,670 | +12.0% | — | — |
| Market Research Analysts And Marketing Specialists | 5% | $78,760 | +7.0% | Bachelor's degree | ECI |
| Other Managers | 4% | — | — | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineers | 3% | $104,110 | +11.2% | Bachelor's degree | RIC |
| Chemical Engineers | 3% | $125,040 | +4.7% | Bachelor's degree | RIC |
| Chemists And Materials Scientists | 2% | $95,060 | +6.6% | — | — |
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata (ages 25-34, bachelor's as highest degree, employed); BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35; O*NET 31.0 interest codes (R realistic, I investigative, A artistic, S social, E enterprising, C conventional).
Related degrees
Materials Sciences degree questions
How much do Materials Sciences graduates make?
Materials Sciences graduates earn a median $106,290 four years after finishing, across 2 U.S. colleges that report it (the middle half of colleges: $92,864 to $119,715; College Scorecard, graduates who received federal aid). Among all workers ages 25-34 whose bachelor's degree is in materials engineering and materials science, the median is $84,907 (Census ACS 2020-2024).
Is a Materials Sciences degree worth it?
At ages 25-34, people with a bachelor's in materials engineering and materials science earn a median $84,907: $22,858 more than all bachelor's degree holders ($62,049) and $49,269 more than high school graduates ($35,638). EducationGuide calculation from Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school.
What jobs do Materials Sciences graduates get?
Among employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in materials engineering and materials science, the most common jobs are other engineers (15%), materials engineers (11%), industrial engineers, including health and safety (7%).
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey microdata; Bureau of Labor Statistics; O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Method
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Cite this: “Materials Sciences degree: salary, jobs and colleges,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/degrees/materials-sciences.