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The differences between materials research engineers and material engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a materials research engineer has an average salary of $87,100, which is higher than the $86,258 average annual salary of a material engineer.
The top three skills for a materials research engineer include materials research, research projects and characterization techniques. The most important skills for a material engineer are DOD, failure analysis, and data analysis.
| Materials Research Engineer | Material Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $87,100 | $86,258 |
| Hourly rate | $41.88 | $41.47 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 82,912 | 89,717 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
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.
Materials research engineers and material engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Materials Research Engineer | Material Engineer | |
| Average salary | $87,100 | $86,258 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $111,000 | Between $65,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | Beaverton, OR | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Nike | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a materials research engineer and a material engineer in terms of educational background:
| Materials Research Engineer | Material Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Materials Science And Engineering | Materials Science And Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between materials research engineers' and material engineers' demographics:
| Materials Research Engineer | Material Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.2% Female, 33.8% | Male, 78.5% Female, 21.5% |
| 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, 2.1% Unknown, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 19.6% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |