Occupations/17-2131.00
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.
Usually a four-year bachelor’s degree.
AI automation risk
47%
Mixed exposure
Human characteristics
45%
Balanced human and task mix
Task orientation
27%
More resilient
A day in this job
- Mostly human
Conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.
- Mostly routine
Monitor material performance, and evaluate its deterioration.
- Task
Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.
Split from the wording of these tasks, shown next to the occupation’s AI risk. It is not a separate score for each task, and it is not a forecast that the job disappears.
Core tasks
- 01Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.
- 02Design and direct the testing or control of processing procedures.
- 03Monitor material performance, and evaluate its deterioration.
- 04Conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.
- 05Evaluate technical specifications and economic factors relating to process or product design objectives.
- 06Modify properties of metal alloys, using thermal and mechanical treatments.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks2.19
- Degree of automation2.28
- Time sitting3.60
- Originality (ability)3.38
- Conflict situations2.71
- Hands-on objects/tools2.52
- Outdoors / weather1.67
- Disease exposure1.10
- Decision freedom4.19
Top abilities
- Written Comprehension4.00
- Oral Expression4.00
- Oral Comprehension4.00
- Inductive Reasoning4.00
- Deductive Reasoning4.00
- Category Flexibility4.00
- Written Expression3.88
- Problem Sensitivity3.88
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension4.00
- Active Listening4.00
- Writing3.75
- Speaking3.75
- Mathematics3.75
- Science4.00
- Critical Thinking3.88
- Active Learning3.25
- Learning Strategies3.00
- Monitoring3.12
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
12 of 39 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA · Public | Materials Engineering 14.1801 | $19,600 | 55% | 86% | 1 yr $122,038 2 yr — Doctoral · CIP 14.18 |
Stanford University Stanford, CA · Private nonprofit | Materials Engineering 14.1801 | $62,400 | 4% | 96% | 1 yr $92,632 2 yr — Master's · CIP 14.18 |
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI · Public | Materials Engineering 14.1801 | $17,700 | 18% | 93% | 1 yr $74,747 2 yr $71,575 Bachelor's · CIP 14.18 |
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College Chicago, IL · Public | Materials Engineering 14.1801 | $4,600 | 100% | 27% | 1 yr $73,635 2 yr $63,005 Bachelor's · CIP 14.18 |
Community College of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA · Public | Materials Engineering 14.1801 | $5,200 | 100% | 21% | 1 yr $72,796 2 yr — Bachelor's · CIP 14.18 |
University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA · Public | Materials Engineering 14.1801 | $14,800 | 11% | 93% | 1 yr $71,015 2 yr $68,219 Bachelor's · CIP 14.18 |
Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH · Public | Materials Engineering 14.1801 | $12,800 | 53% | 83% | 1 yr $70,596 2 yr $71,015 Bachelor's · CIP 14.18 |
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA · Public | Materials Engineering 14.1801 | $11,800 | 17% | 91% | 1 yr $70,009 2 yr $65,387 Bachelor's · CIP 14.18 |
Michigan State University East Lansing, MI · Public | Materials Engineering 14.1801 | $16,100 | 88% | 82% | 1 yr $69,817 2 yr $69,338 Bachelor's · CIP 14.18 |
University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI · Public | Materials Engineering 14.1801 | $11,200 | 49% | 89% | 1 yr $69,338 2 yr $66,941 Bachelor's · CIP 14.18 |
Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN · Public | Materials Engineering 14.1801 | $10,000 | 53% | 83% | 1 yr $69,338 2 yr $68,499 Bachelor's · CIP 14.18 |
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL · Public | Materials Engineering 14.1801 | $17,500 | 45% | 85% | 1 yr $68,499 2 yr $66,541 Bachelor's · CIP 14.18 |