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The differences between materials research engineers and engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an engineer has an average salary of $92,077, which is higher than the $87,100 average annual salary of a materials research engineer.
The top three skills for a materials research engineer include materials research, research projects and characterization techniques. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Materials Research Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $87,100 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $41.88 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 82,912 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
A materials research engineer researches, processes, and develops test materials used to create a wide range of products. They must be good in analytical, mechanical, and math skills. They are likely to perform in their role such as formulating their own project concepts, executing technology projects about the development of novel polymer fiber-reinforced composites, and identifying unknown material compositions. Also, they implement powder processing equipment and manufacture tools to improve their efficiency and quality.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Materials research engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Materials Research Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $87,100 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $111,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | Beaverton, OR | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Nike | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a materials research engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Materials Research Engineer | 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 | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between materials research engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Materials Research Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.2% Female, 33.8% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.1% Unknown, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 19.6% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 5% |