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The differences between metallurgists and materials research 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 $83,962 average annual salary of a metallurgist.
The top three skills for a metallurgist include continuous improvement, failure analysis and aerospace. The most important skills for a materials research engineer are materials research, research projects, and characterization techniques.
| Metallurgist | Materials Research Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $83,962 | $87,100 |
| Hourly rate | $40.37 | $41.88 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 25,545 | 82,912 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A metallurgist is responsible for producing metal items and resources to create components used for large manufacturing and industrial production. Metallurgists operate various machine tools and equipment, requiring them to have a strict adherence to the workplace's safety protocols and regulations to prevent potential hazards and operational delays. They also identify cost-efficient methods for the processes without compromising high-quality standards and business requirements. A metallurgist conducts troubleshooting and enhances technical solutions for production and manufacturing discrepancies.
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.
Metallurgists and materials research engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Metallurgist | Materials Research Engineer | |
| Average salary | $83,962 | $87,100 |
| Salary range | Between $61,000 And $115,000 | Between $67,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | Auburn, NY | Beaverton, OR |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | Washington |
| Best paying company | Technip USA Corporation | Nike |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a metallurgist and a materials research engineer in terms of educational background:
| Metallurgist | Materials Research Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | 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 metallurgists' and materials research engineers' demographics:
| Metallurgist | Materials Research Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.5% Female, 11.5% | Male, 66.2% Female, 33.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.0% Unknown, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 19.0% White, 67.3% 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, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |