How to hire a metallurgist

How to hire a metallurgist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step metallurgist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a metallurgist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new metallurgist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a metallurgist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The metallurgist hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A metallurgist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, metallurgists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of metallurgist salaries for various roles:

   Type of Metallurgist	Description	Hourly rate
   Metallurgist	Materials engineers develop, process, and test materials used to create a wide range of products, from computer chips and aircraft wings to golf clubs and biomedical devices. They study the properties and structures of metals, ceramics, plastics, composites, nanomaterials (extremely small substances), and other substances to create new materials that meet certain mechanical, electrical, and chemical requirements.	$29-55
   Corrosion Engineer	A corrosion engineer plays a vital role in keeping machinery in good condition. They specialize in developing and implementing strategies to slow down or prevent corrosion, which damages machines and poses a threat to many industries... Show more	$33-66
   Welding Engineer	A welding engineer is responsible for planning and monitoring welding projects and assisting the welding team by facilitating procedures and analyzing designs for construction. Welding engineers consult with the clients for their needs and requirements, including their budget limitations, to identify cost-efficient resources with high-quality standards... Show more	$24-66

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Continuous Improvement
   • Failure Analysis
   • Aerospace
   • Heat Treat
   • Data Analysis
   • Aluminum
   • Technical Support
   • Titanium
   • ASTM
   • Product Quality
   • ISO
   • Sigma
   • Process Control
   • QA

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead research and process development projects on titanium wire and bar products.
   • Maintain strong business relationship between NIKE, mills, fabric suppliers, and vertical apparel manufacturers to achieve mutual success.
   • Lead project for first desktop land grid array (LGA) HVM socket that include leaded and lead free solder balls.
   • Manage process development projects on forge and machine medical and aerospace parts.
   • Manage and successfully complete carbon/epoxy material qualification and gain approval from FAA to use in manufacturing of composite aircraft parts.
   • Supervise technical personnel and laboratories for aluminum and titanium forge products.

   More metallurgist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your metallurgist job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A metallurgist salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, metallurgists' average salary in nebraska is 41% less than in new hampshire.
   • Seniority. Entry-level metallurgists earn 47% less than senior-level metallurgists.
   • Certifications. A metallurgist with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a metallurgist's salary.

   Average metallurgist salary

   $83,962yearly

   $40.37 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level metallurgist salary

   $61,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 31, 2026

   Average metallurgist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$92,994	$45
   2	Washington	$92,235	$44
   3	California	$91,790	$44
   4	Pennsylvania	$91,654	$44
   5	Arizona	$89,669	$43
   6	Colorado	$89,261	$43
   7	Oregon	$87,885	$42
   8	Texas	$86,867	$42
   9	Michigan	$85,916	$41
   10	Utah	$84,983	$41
   11	Alaska	$84,496	$41
   12	Ohio	$81,395	$39
   13	North Carolina	$80,893	$39
   14	Alabama	$79,173	$38
   15	Tennessee	$77,757	$37
   16	Indiana	$73,046	$35
   17	Mississippi	$70,487	$34

   Average metallurgist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Technip USA Corporation	$109,943	$52.86
   2	Valero Energy	$104,842	$50.40
   3	NOV	$100,968	$48.54	14
   4	Dana Incorporated	$100,194	$48.17	1
   5	Meritor	$98,466	$47.34
   6	General Electric	$97,575	$46.91	107
   7	Gopher Resource	$95,821	$46.07
   8	American Axle & Manufacturing	$95,314	$45.82	10
   9	Kaiser Aluminum	$94,981	$45.66	4
   10	BASF	$92,761	$44.60
   11	Targa Resources	$91,450	$43.97	2
   12	Gränges	$91,058	$43.78	1
   13	M3 Engineering & Technology	$90,870	$43.69
   14	Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Americas	$90,677	$43.59
   15	Amber Kinetics	$90,667	$43.59
   16	Element Materials Technology	$90,638	$43.58	11
   17	Barrick Goldstrike Mines Inc	$90,637	$43.58
   18	Huntington Alloys Corporation	$90,637	$43.58
   19	Divergent	$90,637	$43.58	15
   20	Allied Gold	$90,637	$43.58

4. Writing a metallurgist job description

   A metallurgist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a metallurgist job description:

   Metallurgist job description example

   Carpenter’s Latrobe Specialty Metals operations, based in Latrobe, Pa., manufacture high-performance specialty alloys serving aerospace, energy and other demanding markets. Carpenter acquired Latrobe in 2012 to increase capacity to meet strong customer demand and to broaden the company’s product mix. Latrobe continues a century-long legacy of leadership in metals technology.

   Metallurgist
   

   PRIMARY DUTIES

   • Provides a range of technical services to internal and external customers supporting the attainment of Company and division goals.
   • Demonstrates the ability to make disposition of referred, non-conforming and off-standard material, including but not limited to RMRs and customer claims.
   • Applies statistical methods to solve problems and design experiments.
   • Perform all other duties and special projects as assigned.

   REQUIREMENTS

   • Four year college degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science or related field.
   • Typically up to 4 years experience preferred, combined with consistently strong performance.
   • Working knowledge of metallurgical principles, standards, methods and practices.
   • Working knowledge of metallurgical and production equipment.
   • Ability to organize and prioritize tasks and make appropriate decisions.
   • Ability to access mill and manufacturing areas.
   • Demonstrates good verbal and written communication skills.
   • Ability to support and participate on team efforts.
   • Ability to assist internal and external customers.

   Carpenter Technology Company offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package including life, medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, disability coverage, 401k with company contributions as well as many other options to employees.

   Carpenter Technology Corporation’s policy is to fully and effectively maintain a program of equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination for all employees, to employ affirmative action for all protected classes, and to recruit and develop the best qualified persons available regardless of age, race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political affiliation or any other characteristic protected by law. The Company also will recruit, develop and provide opportunities for qualified persons with disabilities and protected veterans.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right metallurgist for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your metallurgist job on Zippia to find and recruit metallurgist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit metallurgists, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new metallurgist

   Once you've selected the best metallurgist candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new metallurgist. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a metallurgist?