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The differences between material engineers and research and development engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a research and development engineer has an average salary of $100,169, which is higher than the $86,258 average annual salary of a material engineer.
The top three skills for a material engineer include DOD, failure analysis and data analysis. The most important skills for a research and development engineer are python, R, and solidworks.
| Material Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $86,258 | $100,169 |
| Hourly rate | $41.47 | $48.16 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 89,717 | 187,910 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
Materials engineers are responsible for developing, processing, and testing materials used to create a wide variety of products. These professionals study and evaluate the properties and structure of different materials, including plastics, metal, ceramics, and composites, to create new products. They also perform other tasks that include providing technical advice on suitable materials, diagnosing faults, and providing advice on planning and conducting inspections, repairs, and maintenance. Additionally, they may also oversee the work of other scientists like technicians and evaluate the technical and economic factors surrounding the design aspects of products.
Research and development engineers generally execute research and tests on product ideas, develop new products, and perform redesigns. They are employed in many industries, including manufacturing, electrical, and science-based companies. Their duties vary and depend on the industries they work in. Responsibilities of these engineers include developing new technologies, designing products, and managing the projects until they are completed. Additionally, they lead the project team members to manage their schedules, design the project plans, and collaborate with key departments in developing new products.
Material engineers and research and development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Material Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Average salary | $86,258 | $100,169 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $113,000 | Between $74,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a material engineer and a research and development engineer in terms of educational background:
| Material Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Materials Science And Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between material engineers' and research and development engineers' demographics:
| Material Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.5% Female, 21.5% | Male, 85.2% Female, 14.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.1% Unknown, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 19.6% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.7% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 5% |