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The differences between materials scientists and chemical engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a chemical engineer has an average salary of $89,449, which is higher than the $84,459 average annual salary of a materials scientist.
The top three skills for a materials scientist include polymer, SEM and materials characterization. The most important skills for a chemical engineer are chemistry, technical support, and co-op.
| Materials Scientist | Chemical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $84,459 | $89,449 |
| Hourly rate | $40.61 | $43.00 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 46,795 | 42,176 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | - |
A materials scientist is responsible for evaluating scientific properties, investigating chemical solutions and structures, and analyzing the components of natural materials. Materials scientists perform data analysis using scientific methods and operating different laboratory tools and equipment to develop entirely new scientific discoveries that would benefit various market industries for production. They also validate their findings by researching existing cases or coordinating with science experts to support their claims. A materials scientist creates a comprehensive report, including its scope and benefits for society.
A chemical engineer provides support for chemical operations and testing new processes. The processes they successfully come up with are used to make different products from gas, oil, food, and drink. It is their job to assist in designing new chemical processes and make improvements. They implement fresh ideas to improve standard quality and efficiency. They must be good planners and schedulers of project activities to help chemical technicians to achieve their project objectives and provide technical support to maintain safe, stable, and reliable operations.
Materials scientists and chemical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Materials Scientist | Chemical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $84,459 | $89,449 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $119,000 | Between $67,000 And $119,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | Sugar Land, TX |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Texas |
| Best paying company | Meta | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a materials scientist and a chemical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Materials Scientist | Chemical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemical Engineering |
| Most common college | Cornell University | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between materials scientists' and chemical engineers' demographics:
| Materials Scientist | Chemical Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.9% Female, 27.1% | Male, 74.1% Female, 25.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.5% Asian, 29.6% White, 51.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 21.3% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 9% |