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Job outlook for materials development engineers in the United States
Are materials development engineer jobs in demand?
Materials development engineer job and salary trends over time
Materials development engineer jobs over time
Materials development engineer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,684 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 3,084 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 3,343 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 3,357 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 3,391 | 0.00% |
Average materials development engineer salary over time
Materials development engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $85,952 | $41.32 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $83,903 | $40.34 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | $83,032 | $39.92 | --2.3% |
| 2022 | $85,027 | $40.88 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | $83,858 | $40.32 | +2.2% |
Materials development engineer jobs by state
Most common states for materials development engineers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 3,147 | 42% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 278 | 40% |
| 3 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,670 | 30% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,756 | 26% |
| 5 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 193 | 26% |
| 6 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 147 | 25% |
| 7 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 461 | 24% |
| 8 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,475 | 21% |
| 9 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 441 | 21% |
| 10 | Alaska | 739,795 | 159 | 21% |
| 11 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,704 | 20% |
| 12 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 176 | 20% |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 2,436 | 19% |
| 14 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,999 | 19% |
| 15 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,239 | 19% |
| 16 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,091 | 19% |
| 17 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 543 | 19% |
| 18 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 251 | 19% |
| 19 | California | 39,536,653 | 7,075 | 18% |
| 20 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 755 | 18% |
Most common cities for materials development engineers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Hartford | 1 | 2% | $91,542 |
| 2 | Jeffersonville | 1 | 2% | $75,174 |
| 3 | Santa Clara | 1 | 1% | $99,936 |
| 4 | Tempe | 1 | 1% | $89,066 |
| 5 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $96,779 |
| 6 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $78,834 |
| 7 | San Diego | 1 | 0% | $89,676 |
Materials Development Engineer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of materials development engineer experts
University of California, Santa Barbara
University of Southern Mississippi
Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
North Dakota State University
Tuskegee University
Arizona State University
Missouri University of Science & Technology
North Dakota State University
University of Arkansas
Binghamton University
Hampton University
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Wichita State University
The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga
Lincoln University of Missouri
Lipscomb University
West Virginia State University
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Tuskegee University
Omar Saleh
Chair, Materials DepartmentUniversity of California, Santa Barbara
Materials Sciences
What general advice would you give to a Materials Development Engineer?
Omar Saleh: Technical skills related to the subject areas mentioned above will become important and prevalent. Computational skills specifically are more important now than ten years ago, and this will stay the same in the next 3-5 years.
What Materials Development Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Omar Saleh: It is widely agreed that the importance of materials science will only grow in the next several decades, so it is a great time to get started in the field. Growth is expected because materials science is posed to address many of the most challenging problems in society.
What will help Materials Development Engineers increase their earning potential?
Omar Saleh: I think there is a clear answer to this, but I don't really think it is the correct long-term decision. The short term answer is to develop machine-learning/AI skills, as those skills are very highly-valued at the moment.
What general advice would you give to a Materials Development Engineer?
Dr. James Rawlins: The career field is ripe for students that want to solve problems and be rewarded for doing so consistently. There is a current shortage of STEM related recent graduates based upon both current retiring positions and future needs. Deloitte estimates that there will be 4.6 million manufacturing jobs to fill between 2018 and 2028. There will be a shortfall of 2.4 million and that will drive opportunities and salaries higher, estimated to be 1.7X average all position salary growth (onetonline.org) for those that have STEM related degrees. Polymer scientists, engineers and plastics engineers are highly sought after and needed.
What Materials Development Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. James Rawlins: We graduate polymer scientist and engineers those degrees are slightly different from plastics engineers but also very similar. Our students careers would be focused on utilizing new and legacy technology to deliver new performance and novel applications of polymeric materials. We present skills that allow our students to work in almost every area of research, development and engineering that is related to societal needs. Those that prefer to work daily in a laboratory would be able to do so in most career fields, testing materials, formulating new products and often being the technical lead with customer focused projects to match their needs and expectations. Those that prefer to move from a laboratory to sales and marketing also do so very successfully. The transition from inventing, making and testing polymeric materials happens often for those that prefer to sell and interface with customers. These bachelor degreed scientist and engineers would often travel to customers, explain technical projects and timelines associated with research and development.
What will help Materials Development Engineers increase their earning potential?
Dr. James Rawlins: Historically, our students love their chosen careers, with the versatility to be in laboratories for product development, new materials synthesis and research, or in sales, marketing, technical marketing, management, production there are plenty of mobility, growth and travel opportunities. Some of our students want small to medium sized companies with lots of diverse challenges and an exciting pace while there are also many exciting opportunities in medium to large companies with many chances for mentoring, to be mentored and to grow within a larger organization. There are plenty of options for all of the varied career outlooks and perspectives.
What general advice would you give to a Materials Development Engineer?
Martin Sentmanat Ph.D.: Because of the highly versatile toolbox of skills that Chemical Engineers are inherently equipped with, they are capable of developing game-changing technologies at scales that will impact societies around the planet. For example, when it comes to sustainability, over the past few years, the largest polymer manufacturers have been investing heavily in developing advanced recycling technologies with the goal of making the polymer industry a more circular economy.
Kimberly Henthorn
Department Head & Associate ProfessorRose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Department of Chemical Engineering
What skills stand out on Materials Development Engineer resumes?
Kimberly Henthorn: All chemical engineers must be excellent at math and problem solving, but in today's world, having experience with programming, data analytics, or statistics will really strengthen your resume.
What soft skills should all Materials Development Engineers possess?
Kimberly Henthorn: Being good at the technical stuff is important, but being able to effectively communicate is just as critical. Both oral and written communication skills are necessary in order to explain to others what your work means. You also have to be able to work with a team; chemical engineers rarely work alone, so knowing how to work with people in other disciplines to get the job done is important.
What skills will help Materials Development Engineers earn the most?
Kimberly Henthorn: I think being well-rounded is more important than being really good at just one thing. Showing that you are good at academics is only one element of being a good employee. You have to be good at communication, be personable, have a curious and creative mind, and work well in a team. Being involved in leadership opportunities and extracurriculars (both at school/work and in the community) are a great way to show well-roundedness.
Dr. David Grewell Ph.D.
Department Chair and ProfessorNorth Dakota State University
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Department
What skills will help Materials Development Engineers earn the most?
Dr. David Grewell Ph.D.: Good communication and leadership skills that are embedded in their curriculum enable IE's to quickly move up the corporate ladder and become the CEO of the nation's leading companies.
Dr. Michael Curry Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Chemistry, Adjunct Associate Professor of MSE,, Affiliate Member of The Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, and Founder/CEO of Eco-friendly Plastic Materials, LLCTuskegee University
Chemistry, and Material Science Engineering Faculty
What skills stand out on Materials Development Engineer resumes?
Dr. Michael Curry Ph.D.: -Able to work in team environments
-Excellent critical thinker
-Able to make critical data evaluations and interpretations and process adjustments
-Strong background in chemical processes
-Excellent communicator (writing, talking, reading)
-Strong problem-solving capabilities
-Excellent project manager
-Independent thinker
-Self-starter
David Nielsen Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorArizona State University
School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy
What skills stand out on Materials Development Engineer resumes?
David Nielsen Ph.D.: Relevant real-world experience (i.e., internships); computational skills like programming; statistical analysis.
What soft skills should all Materials Development Engineers possess?
David Nielsen Ph.D.: Communication, teamwork, decision-making.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Materials Development Engineers?
David Nielsen Ph.D.: Strong fundamental understandings of mass and energy balances, as well as thermodynamics; data analysis.
Christi Patton Luks
Professor (NTT) and Associate Chair for Academic AffairsMissouri University of Science & Technology
Linda & Bipin Doshi Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering
What soft skills should all Materials Development Engineers possess?
Christi Patton Luks: Teamwork and communication skills are key! Everything is done with a team. You may be the expert on the process side of the project, but you need to have great communications with the mechanical team, the financial team, and those in operations. Everyone has a slightly different skill set and point of view, so it is critical that you make your concerns clear to the rest of the team, no matter their background. Another helpful soft skill is the ability to work with people from other cultures. Many companies are multinational, or their clients are in different countries. It can be tricky to set up a time to meet as a group when dealing with multiple time zones, but the cultural issues can also be daunting. The best way to build those skills is to get to know people of different backgrounds. A friend whose parents were born in Country X or has done a lot of travel can be incredibly helpful in warning you of cultural pitfalls.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Materials Development Engineers?
Christi Patton Luks: We teach a lot of facts and theories. All of those are useful, but really the ability to problem solve and pull together the different things you've learned is what makes the difference. When I worked in the industry, I may not have solved a differential equation, but I had solved enough problems in school that I could recognize when the patterns I was seeing in real life had the correct trends. If the trend wasn't what I expected, I got to dig deeper to figure out why. Curiosity and a desire to dig deeper to solve a problem really help.
What skills will help Materials Development Engineers earn the most?
Christi Patton Luks: Frankly, your GPA may be the biggest driver for your first job out of college. A high GPA gets a lot of attention, but you'll need work experience and activities to convert that into a job offer. If your GPA isn't great, then those extracurricular activities and internships will be what lands you that job. The key is to tell a story about what you got out of each of those experiences. When I was interviewing for my first job, I think I got more interest in the fact that I had helped to organize a local preliminary competition to Miss America than anything else. I hadn't competed! I had just organized the production of the show. I spent just a few weeks working on that project, but it was unusual and demonstrated leadership and organization, and teamwork.
Andriy Voronov
ProfessorNorth Dakota State University
Coatings and Polymeric Materials Department
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Materials Development Engineers?
Andriy Voronov: I think most graduate programs in materials science offer opportunities for interdisciplinary research and educational activities. Their philosophy is to educate and prepare job prospects by providing advanced aspects of work, including extensive collaborations between departments, programs, institutions or with industrial partners. Offering specialized trainings in various areas, graduate programs aim to merge basic and applied research within the certain field. With this said, quit often graduate programs work also with leading industrial scientists who help to provide to the graduates new and practical directions to become competitive at the job market. Answering your question more specifically, graduate programs do target as complementary and comprehensive education as possible. It will be interesting to hear from graduates what courses they took have the biggest impact for them, as well as if they need any additional certifications/licenses and which specifically.
What technical skills for a Materials Development Engineer stand out to employers?
Rick Wise Ph.D.: Materials Science and Engineering graduates with MS and/or PhD degrees are expected to have a working knowledge of materials characterization equipment and how to interpret measurement results. Most will have an in-depth knowledge of materials used in a particular field (electronics, photonics, nanomaterials, energy, biological, etc.), in the fabricatoin/processing of those materials, and how to control and optimize the properties to meet the desired application. Especially valued is the capability to combine that knowledge with creativity to bring about innovations which help solve problems and create markets.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Materials Development Engineers?
Rick Wise Ph.D.: We are a graduate program where students must complete research in order to receive their MS or PhD degree. Except those involved in computational materials science, most of our students will have effectively lost 6-9 months of time in their research labs due to COVID-19 access restrictions and limitations on number of students allowed in the lab. Although, I do not believe this will necessarily be an enduring impact, it will delay graduation timelines for many of them by 1-2 semesters. Consequently, one enduring impact will be the lost salary from this delay in entering the job market.
What's a day at work look like for a Materials Development Engineer?
Rick Wise Ph.D.: Materials Science and Engineering jobs spread across many industries but typically include hands-on, in-person activities in materials synthesis, characterization, development, and manufacture. As in academic environments, COVID restrictions in industry and government lab environments will necessarily slow the learning curve as recent graduates transition into these jobs. Although by necessity, the availability and quality of virtual training has improved, it does not replace the value of hands-on training and in-person mentoring while learning the required tasks of the job. Several recent graduates have had most interaction with their new co-workers online which changes the dynamics of the socialization process into the company culture. Many companies have learned to adapt, made sure new hires are engaged, and made changes to allow safe return to the work environment. This hybrid arrangement seems to be the norm at present.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Materials Development Engineers?
Junghyun Cho Ph.D.: The application of machine learning to materials science is growing, so any courses related to machine learning and data science can be beneficial. Traditionally biomaterials and biomedical engineering topics are not covered much in the materials science curriculum, but the courses covering these topics will be of use. In materials science, there are not many licenses that can be pursued before graduation.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Materials Development Engineers?
Jerald Dumas: Those students who successfully navigate their engineering coursework and other extracurricular actives during the coronavirus pandemic would have displayed endurance, adaptably, and management skills, skill sets that will endure beyond the pandemic. During this remote period of learning, students have been required to enhance their time management skills as they cannot physically interact with professors or classmates. They experience obstacles such as engagement with parties in different time zones or social environments. The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated their maturity as it relates to such skill sets.
What type of skills will young Materials Development Engineers need?
Jerald Dumas: The coronavirus pandemic has truly illustrated the need for effective communication both within and outside various entities. More specifically for engineers, the ability to communicate technical concepts across all platforms (e.g., video conferencing, e-mail, etc.) will be critical as the coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the effectiveness of such platforms to conduct business.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Materials Development Engineer job market given the pandemic?
Thomas Junk Ph.D.: The most obvious consequence is a decline in the oil field sector, which used to employ many chemists. This is very noticeable in our area (Lafayette and its vicinity). As a result of this decline, the job market for chemists has dropped from very good to fair. However, most other chemistry jobs have been stable, and our students can still find industrial positions. A major sector for employment has been QA/QC-type lab work. This has not changed because chemistry is not as strongly affected by Covid as many other sectors of our economy are. Fundamentally, the jobs and types of skills needed have not changed very much (except for niche sectors such as oil field and transportation-related products). The cheap oil and gas have provided a boost to industries that depend on affordable petrochemicals (e.g., polymers).
What Materials Development Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Thomas Junk Ph.D.: It is advisable to gain as much experience as possible, such as an internship. Graduates will usually get some help from their former home departments by way of contact names and referrals, but few take advantage of that. If there is no better option, even volunteer work can help. Of course, the closer the work is related to the student's future career path, the better. Another option is to return to college for an M.S. degree. One year already gets you halfway there, and a degree that provides you with specialized skills is well worth it. In practice, most graduate students in science and engineering find academic scholarships, so it doesn't have to cost you anything. Since most students change institutions for graduate school, their circle of friends and contacts drastically increases.
What general advice would you give to a Materials Development Engineer?
Thomas Junk Ph.D.: While this may not exactly answer your question, it is very important to start making connections and to network WELL BEFORE graduation. Internships, volunteer work, membership in professional organizations, leadership activities all help to land a job after graduation. It is very important to continue networking as much as possible. The only true job security is the ability to find another job - it is truly liberating because it enables you to say "no" to your boss, if necessary. Also, I noticed that many graduates do not take advantage of all possible avenues to find employers. It is important to have a good web presence and to sign up on sites such as LinkedIn.
I also highly recommend cultivating ties to one's former institution and college friends. Often, job openings are filled by word of mouth: companies looking for somebody with a specific skill set ask around. A company contacted me for the name of somebody I could recommend for a specific job, but I came to find out that the contact information that I had of the person I wanted to recommend was no longer valid.
It is important to have specific career goals. Many recent graduates and fresh hires let their careers "drift" and have no idea where they want to be ten years from now. Also, always keep looking for jobs! Few jobs are so good that it is impossible to find a better one.
Dr. Atul Rai Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorWichita State University
School of Accountancy, Barton School of Business
What experience really stands out on Materials Development Engineer resumes?
Dr. Atul Rai Ph.D.: Employers are looking for people who can integrate in multi-disciplinary environments to solve complex problems. They are looking for resumes that show quick learning. Such resumes will permanently be in great demand. Because the world is interconnected much more than it ever was, employees today will deal with customers, supply-chains, and fellow employees who are spread all over the world. It means that an experience that showcases the global perspective will be in demand over the long-term.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Materials Development Engineers?
Dr. Bradley Harris Ph.D.: "In terms of positive impact, I hope that students will graduate with a better sense of the information and technology available to them in the internet age. Faced with the loss of easy access to their professors and other campus resources, they've had to find reliable online sources, watch tutorials, and converse with students across the nation and globe in online communities.
I honestly believed that they would graduate with the same knowledge and skillset in terms of negative impact as in previous years. The legacy of getting a degree during a pandemic will likely be a lower GPA, which could be a factor in securing future employment. I've remarked often this year that the top 2% of students can succeed in any course format. The borderline B and C students have struggled, becoming more like marginal C and D students, due to the challenges posed by learning via hybrid and online modalities."
Vianney Gimenez-Pinto Ph.D
Assistant Professor of Physics and ChemistryLincoln University of Missouri
Department of Science, Technology and Mathematics
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Materials Development Engineers to find work opportunities?
Vianney Gimenez-Pinto Ph.D: For a Physics Major interested in research, a straightforward option is to continue working towards a graduate degree (either a Master's or a Ph.D.), obtaining work as a Graduate Research Assistant. The physics community is highly committed to maintaining a well-functioning science and research system in the US. As I mentioned before, Science and Technology are the keys to overcome this crisis. Thus, I cannot imagine that the pandemic will reduce students' opportunities to pursue graduate studies and research. If it does, I expect a collective push to keep science moving forward, rain or shine.
A scientist with completed graduate studies has a variety of available work opportunities both in industry and academia. Graduate school teaches cutting-edge science and requires the student to contribute to the body of scientific knowledge. However, succeeding also involves various soft skills such as project management, resilience, teamwork, unique organizations, science communication skills, etc.
In industry and technology development, STEM Ph.D. s (Physics Included) are valuable due to these soft skills in combination with mathematical reasoning, problem-solving, and critical thinking. In academia, this skill-combo also make them the force behind US scientific discovery and innovation. STEM Ph.D. s can also find jobs as editors for scientific journals, science writers and communicators, scientific consultants, science policy advisors, program managers of science education and diversity initiatives, among others.
Still, a Physics Major does not need to get a graduate degree to get rewarding employment in this economy. A Physics Bachelor's degree can open the door to a science teaching career at the high-school level or work as a professional science tutor. Physics Bachelors can also work as laboratory technicians, code developers, data scientists, science communicators, among other career paths. Last but not least, a Physics Bachelor can start his own tech company and flourish as an entrepreneur.
Steve Opoku-Duah Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Chemistry & ChairLipscomb University
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
What type of skills will young Materials Development Engineers need?
Steve Opoku-Duah Ph.D.: Chemistry is a highly analytical and problem-solving discipline with strong connections with everyday human social problems, industry, and the environment. I expect chemistry graduates to develop robust analytical and critical thinking skills, competence in problem-solving, and adaptability at their workplaces.
Dr. Micheal Fultz
Associate Professor of ChemistryWest Virginia State University
What experience really stands out on Materials Development Engineer resumes?
Dr. Micheal Fultz: This might come as a surprise, but what stands out isn't necessarily chemistry experience. This isn't universally true, but in some research groups/internships, the students are glorified bottle washers. This is often a topic of discussion during the interview process, just to see what the experience consisted of. Holding a position like a shift supervisor at a restaurant illustrates a lot of leadership skills, especially of people who aren't your peer group. And it tends to illustrate the ability to balance a whole bunch of responsibilities. The resume needs to demonstrate what are core competencies (respect, teamwork, customer focus, innovation) and should be clearly demonstrated in the resume.
How do you envision technology impacting Materials Development Engineers in the next 5 years?
Dr. Micheal Fultz: I think industry and academia will continue to use more remote meetings, the ability to monitor processes and instrumentation from everywhere, AND the expectation your job is more than 40 hours a week. More meetings may be scheduled at the convenience of everyone, which includes evenings.
How would you rate the starting salaries for Materials Development Engineers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Sanchari Chowdhury Ph.D.: Chemical Engineers are one of the highest-paid professionals out there. The median annual wage for chemical engineers is $108,770, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $66,810 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $176,090. The starting salary could be easily around 75k for a Chemical Engineering BS. See the following website Bls
Tamara Smith Ph.D.
Associate Provost, Professor of Chemical EngineeringTuskegee University
Department of Chemical Engineering
How do you envision technology impacting Materials Development Engineers in the next 5 years?
Tamara Smith Ph.D.: COVID-19 catapulted the nation into teleworking. Organizations that didn't consider it an option previously now recognize its benefits and challenges. The future will likely look different. Web-conferencing tools and other technology allow remote work. Travel may be reduced because of the efficacy of web-conferencing. Chemical engineering was already a field of control rooms, but it may be that individuals monitoring sites are even farther away.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Materials Development Engineers?
Tamara Smith Ph.D.: Career-wise, pharmaceuticals are one field that employs chemical engineers. The scale of the pandemic may lead to additional opportunities in pharmaceuticals and related fields. Socially and emotionally, the coronavirus pandemic will have an enduring impact. Comparisons have been made to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and how they profoundly impacted a generation. The enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic is likely to be even more significant. Another point of comparison is the 1918 flu pandemic. It was also a deadly pandemic that many had never talked about until the coronavirus pandemic. Some graduates won't have commencement photos and other memorabilia. Their senior year memories are of quarantine, remote learning, and physical distancing in classrooms. The graduates will be resilient and more robust for the experience, but the impact will be enduring.