10 of the Most Popular Types of Material Engineer Jobs in 2026

See what kind of roles similar to Material Engineer jobs are hiring now

Top Types Of Material Engineer Jobs

• Manufacturing Engineer

  Salary range: $73,000 - $94,000

  A manufacturing engineer is a specialized engineer who improves product manufacturing processes. As a manufacturing engineer, your primary duties are to design and develop production systems and improve the tools and systems within the manufacturing process. You will use computer software such as CAD to create, modify, and test the products and manufacturing processes.

• Chemical Engineer

  Salary range: $67,500 - $106,500

  Chemical Engineers design and develop manufacturing processes for various chemicals. They can work in a variety of industries, including pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, food processing, environmental health, health care, and design and construction. In this job, you can expect to research new methods for manufacturing chemicals, create these processes, estimate the cost of production, and draft and implement related safety procedures to ensure the well-being of employees who will work with those chemicals.

• Material Science Metallurgy

  Salary range: $80,000 - $116,500

  Material Science Metallurgy is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Material Science Metallurgy jobs pay between $80,000 (25th percentile) and $116,500 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for Material Science Metallurgy job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

• Material Science

  Salary range: $39,000 - $52,500

  Material Science is a popular job search query. Most salaries for Material Science jobs pay between $39,000 (25th percentile) and $52,500 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Material Science job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Engineering

  Salary range: $116,500 - $173,000

  Engineering jobs encompass a range of positions in a variety of technical fields, including mechanical, chemical, electrical, aeronautic, and civil engineering. Some engineering jobs are in research and design, while others focus on the construction and manufacturing industry. In this career, you need a mix of design, project management, and research skills. You can work in numerous industries, including construction, manufacturing, agriculture, medical, aviation, and natural resource extraction. Some jobs are based primarily in an office or lab setting, while others require you to travel to field sites to make surveys and assessments.

• Metallurgical Engineer

  Salary range: $77,500 - $108,500

  A metallurgical engineer develops ways to extract metal materials and produce metal products more efficiently. As a metallurgical engineer, you may work in the mining industry or for a manufacturer that utilizes metal products, such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, and large equipment companies. In the mining industry, you may focus on finding environmentally-friendly methods to extract minerals from mines. Those working in the manufacturing field may design techniques to remove metals from other materials or convert raw metals into new alloys and types of metals.

• Remote Materials Engineer

  Salary range: $84,000 - $102,500

  Remote Materials Engineer is a typical job search query Most salaries for Remote Materials Engineer jobs pay between $84,000 (25th percentile) and $102,500 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for Remote Materials Engineer job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

• Junior Materials Engineer

  Salary range: $48,500 - $80,000

  Junior Materials Engineer is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Junior Materials Engineer jobs pay between $48,500 (25th percentile) and $80,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Junior Materials Engineer job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Materials Science Engineer

  Salary range: $84,000 - $102,500

  Materials Science Engineer is a popular job search query. Most salaries for Materials Science Engineer jobs pay between $84,000 (25th percentile) and $102,500 (75th percentile) annually. You’ll find many open positions nationwide for Materials Science Engineer job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

• Materials Scientist

  Salary range: $93,500 - $167,000

  A materials scientist researches and studies the chemical structures and properties of materials such as metals, rubber, and ceramics. As a materials scientist, your job duties involve determining ways to create, enhance, or combine elements for use in products and applications. Because the field of materials science is broad, scientists tend to specialize in a material type or technique. To pursue a career as a materials scientist, you typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, materials science, engineering, or a related field. Some positions may require a master’s degree or doctorate and extensive experience in a laboratory setting. Many materials scientists also train in specific disciplines, such as organic chemistry or ceramic engineering. Additional qualifications include excellent critical thinking, problem-solving, and computer science skills, as well as an understanding of statistical analysis.