USA Career Guide - Materials Engineers

Education and Training Requirements for Materials Engineers

Candidates planning to start career as Materials engineer in United States should study physics, chemistry, and mathematics with calculus at high school level studies. In US, Materials engineering is introduced at college level studies for the students who successfully complete high school with above subject combinations. A course in Materials engineering provides training on materials sciences and engineering i.e., application of engineering knowledge in a real world situation to build new products and improve existing ones from natural and artificial materials. At the end of the program bachelor’s degree in Materials engineering is awarded which open vistas for further studies, research work or start working in industry. Materials engineering programs are accredited by ABET.

Related Instructional Programs/Degrees for Materials Engineer in USA

Following is the list of  various programs offered by different universities in US and approved by ABET. Masters and PhD programs are also offered in different areas of materials sciences and materials engineering.

• Materials Science and Engineering, BS
• Materials Science and Engineering, BSE
• Materials Engineering, BMTL
• Polymer & Fiber Engineering, BPFE
• Materials Science and Engineering, BSMSE
• Materials Engineering, BS
• Polymer Science and Engineering, BS
• Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, BS
• Polymer and Fiber Engineering, BS
• Metallurgical and Material Engineering, BS
• Mechanical-Polymer Engineering, BS
• Electrical Engineering/Materials Sciences and Engineering, BS
• Electronic Materials Engineering, BS
• Materials Engineering, BSMAE
• Materials Science and Engineering, BMatSE

Industrial Overview

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics Materials engineers held about 22,300 jobs in 2010. Industries employing the largest numbers of materials engineers in 2010 were as follows:

• Aerospace product and parts manufacturing - 17%
• Architectural, engineering, and related services – 10%
• Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing – 8%
• Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing – 7%
• Federal government – 7%

Job Prospects for Materials Engineers in the US

Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates 9% job growth for materials engineers from year 2010 to year 2020. The materials engineers will be employed in designing both in existing and upcoming industries. New fields like biomedical engineering and nanotechnology requires materials engineers to build new technologies to meet consumers’ needs. They also get employment in many other fields like computers, electronics, aviation, mechanical, civil, plastic, ceramics, electrical, rubber, fiber etc. The job opportunities for materials engineers will be existing on a continuous basis in United States.  

Pay of a Materials Engineer in the US

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics the median annual wage of materials engineers was $83,120 in May 2010. Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of materials engineers in May 2010 were as follows:

• Federal government - $110,590
• Aerospace product and parts manufacturing - $91,920
• Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing - $87,660
• Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing - $86,380
• Architectural, engineering, and related services - $75,470