Materials Scientists
Research and study the structures and chemical properties of various natural and synthetic or composite materials, including metals, alloys, rubber, ceramics, semiconductors, polymers, and glass. Determine ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials with new or specific properties for use in a variety of products and applications. Includes glass scientists, ceramic scientists, metallurgical scientists, and polymer scientists.
- Median pay
- $117,790
- Doing it now
- 8,600
- By 2035
- Up 8.3%
- Usually needs
- Bachelor's degree
a year
across the country
600 openings a year
to get in
What the work involves
- Plan laboratory experiments to confirm feasibility of processes and techniques used in the production of materials with special characteristics.
- Confer with customers to determine how to tailor materials to their needs.
- Conduct research on the structures and properties of materials, such as metals, alloys, polymers, and ceramics, to obtain information that could be used to develop new products or enhance existing ones.
- Devise testing methods to evaluate the effects of various conditions on particular materials.
- Determine ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials with new or specific properties for use in a variety of products and applications.
- Recommend materials for reliable performance in various environments.
- Test individual parts and products to ensure that manufacturer and governmental quality and safety standards are met.
What to study
The fields of study the Department of Education links to this occupation, most widely taught first.
- Materials SciencesSee 16 colleges that teach it
- Apparel and TextilesSee 94 colleges that teach it
Who it suits
O*NET scores every occupation on six interest dimensions. This one leans hardest on these three.
Analytical and curious
Hands-on and practical
Organised and precise
Careers like this one
Where this comes from: the description and the task list are O*NET, which the Department of Labor maintains. Pay, workforce size, outlook and the education normally needed are the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections programme, 2025 wages and 2025 to 2035 projections. Half of them earn more than $117,790 a year, which means half earn less, and what you would earn depends on where you work and how long you have been doing it. The fields of study come from the National Center for Education Statistics crosswalk.