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The differences between material engineers and research engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a research engineer has an average salary of $96,945, 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 engineer are python, java, and software development.
| Material Engineer | Research Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $86,258 | $96,945 |
| Hourly rate | $41.47 | $46.61 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 89,717 | 136,763 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| 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 Engineers are responsible for a wide range of duties, including researching and developing new technologies and prototypes, and finding solutions to improve techniques, procedures, and technologies.
Material engineers and research engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Material Engineer | Research Engineer | |
| Average salary | $86,258 | $96,945 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $113,000 | Between $67,000 And $138,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a material engineer and a research engineer in terms of educational background:
| Material Engineer | Research Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Materials Science And Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between material engineers' and research engineers' demographics:
| Material Engineer | Research Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.5% Female, 21.5% | Male, 81.7% Female, 18.3% |
| 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, 16.9% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 5% |