Materials Engineers

Materials engineers held about 36,800 jobs in 2007. Because materials are building blocks for other goods, materials engineers are widely distributed among manufacturing industries. In fact, 83% of materials engineers worked in manufacturing industries, primarily metal production and processing, electronic component and other electrical equipment, transportation equipment, industrial machinery and equipment. Materials Engineers also work in services industries such as engineering management and research and testing services. Most remaining materials engineers worked for Federal and State governments.

Materials Engineering Employment Outlook

Employment of materials engineers is expected to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations through 2011. More materials engineers will be needed to develop new materials for electronics and plastics products. However, many of the manufacturing industries in which employ materials engineers are concentrated - such as primary metals, stone, clay and glass products - are expected to experience declines in employment, generally reducing employment opportunities in these areas.

As firms contract out to meet their materials engineering needs, however, employment growth spikes are expected in many services industries, including research and testing, health, pharmaceuticals and engineering and architectural services. In addition to growth, job openings will result from the need to replace materials engineers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force.

Materials Engineering Salaries

The middle 50% earned between $52,580 and $86,070. The lowest 10% earned less than $40,960, and the highest 10% earned more than $105,240.

In 2007, B.S. candidates in materials engineering received starting salary offers averaging $53,400 a year, M.S. candidates averaged $58,690 and Ph.D.'s received $77,560. Ph.D. and M.S. degrees have been in stronger demand since 2005, and this trend is expected to continue through 2012.