Engineering & Architecture · SOC 17-2131
Materials engineers combine lab work with design review — AI speeds analysis but cannot replace experimental judgment.
Parts of the job are exposed, but judgment and context still matter.
Timeline: AI-accelerated materials discovery platforms are emerging now, but experimental validation, physical processing, and customer-facing applications keep materials engineers central through the decade.
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$134,830 median pay
$127,590 median pay
$101,140 median pay
$117,750 median pay
$64,790 median pay
$127,590 median pay
AI job-risk card
Materials Engineers is watch on AIFear. Parts of the job are exposed, but judgment and context still matter.
AIFear.com
Our AI Fear Score for Materials Engineers is 45/100 (Watch). Parts of the job are exposed, but judgment and context still matter.
45 out of 100, based on an AI-model review of this occupation's O*NET tasks against what current AI can actually do.
Most exposed: Analyzing product failure data and test results, Evaluating technical specifications and economic factors, Reviewing new product plans for material selection, Preparing cost proposals and managerial reports. Harder to automate: Thermal and mechanical treatment of metal alloys, Supervising smelting and refining operations, Planning and overseeing laboratory operations, Training customers on new materials applications.
Lean into Computational materials science, AI-assisted materials discovery, Failure analysis methods, Process metallurgy, Lab and production oversight. Consider roles such as Advanced materials researcher or Failure analysis consultant or Manufacturing process engineer.
Tasks, skills and AI-exposure for this role were reviewed by an AI model against its O*NET task profile (curated roles use published research anchors). Pay and employment, where shown, are U.S. BLS OEWS (May 2024) figures. This is an estimate, not a prediction about any individual's job. Compare all occupations.