Polymer / Plastics Engineering degree: salary, jobs & colleges
Bachelor's graduates in polymer / plastics engineering earn a median $88,268 four years after finishing, across 6 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 6 colleges; middle half $87,636–$92,439.
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 polymer / plastics engineering 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).
Polymer / Plastics Engineering earnings by state
Two views of pay: recent graduates of the state's colleges four years out (College Scorecard), and everyone ages 25-34 living in the state with this field of degree (Census). States show a figure only with at least 3 colleges or 100 survey respondents.
| State | Graduates, 4 yrs (colleges) | Ages 25-34 (respondents) |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $87,636 (3) | — |
College Scorecard field of study (median of each college's graduates); Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata; EducationGuide calculations.
Related degrees
Polymer / Plastics Engineering degree questions
How much do Polymer / Plastics Engineering graduates make?
Polymer / Plastics Engineering graduates earn a median $88,268 four years after finishing, across 6 U.S. colleges that report it (the middle half of colleges: $87,636 to $92,439; 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 Polymer / Plastics Engineering 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 Polymer / Plastics Engineering 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: “Polymer / Plastics Engineering degree: salary, jobs and colleges,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/degrees/polymer-plastics-engineering.