Materials Scientists
Research and study the structures and chemical properties of various natural and synthetic or composite materials, including metals, alloys, rubber, ceramics, semiconductors, polymers, and glass. Determine ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials with new or specific properties for use in a variety of products and applications. Includes glass scientists, ceramic scientists, metallurgical scientists, and polymer scientists.
- O*NET-SOC code
19-2032.00 - Preparation Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Wages
Median annual wage, U.S.$117,790
Employment, U.S.8,470
Median hourly wage$56.63
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $66,820 | $89,990 | $117,790 | $150,550 | $197,290 |
By state (31)
| State | Employment | Median annual | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1,030 | $177,030 | 1.04 |
| Colorado | 370 | $117,290 | 2.35 |
| Connecticut | 50 | $130,320 | 0.57 |
| Delaware | 90 | Not available | 3.42 |
| District of Columbia | $137,600 | ||
| Florida | 200 | $102,340 | 0.36 |
| Georgia | 350 | $91,970 | 1.31 |
| Illinois | 380 | $125,850 | 1.15 |
| Indiana | 320 | $130,540 | 1.82 |
| Iowa | 180 | $88,320 | 2.09 |
| Kansas | 40 | $115,490 | 0.55 |
| Maryland | 270 | $112,400 | 1.77 |
| Massachusetts | 890 | $132,600 | 4.50 |
| Michigan | 230 | $107,410 | 0.97 |
| Minnesota | 290 | $132,160 | 1.79 |
| Montana | 50 | $71,810 | 1.82 |
| Nevada | 100 | $97,490 | 1.15 |
| New Hampshire | 80 | $119,990 | 2.07 |
| New Jersey | 440 | $103,150 | 1.90 |
| New York | 530 | $131,740 | 1.00 |
| North Carolina | 490 | $106,470 | 1.84 |
| Ohio | 450 | $108,830 | 1.47 |
| Oregon | 100 | $150,550 | 0.95 |
| Pennsylvania | 100 | $106,920 | 0.31 |
| South Carolina | 80 | $101,930 | 0.65 |
| Tennessee | 60 | $69,010 | 0.36 |
| Texas | 300 | $72,700 | 0.39 |
| Utah | 110 | $126,840 | 1.13 |
| Virginia | 100 | $124,150 | 0.47 |
| Washington | 290 | $127,250 | 1.47 |
| Wisconsin | 70 | $137,700 | 0.47 |
Similar occupations
Similarity is our measure: the cosine of importance x level over all 120 O*NET skills, knowledge areas and abilities. It is not an O*NET finding. More.
Circles are the 20 most similar occupations, coloured by Job Zone. Lines join pairs where one is among the other's 10 most similar; darker lines are pairs O*NET also lists as related. Drag a circle to move it out of the way; select one to open it.
| # | Occupation | Job Zone | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Materials Engineers | 4 | 0.987 |
| 2 | Nanosystems Engineers | 5 | 0.981 |
| 3 | Chemical Engineers | 4 | 0.979 |
| 4 | Fuel Cell Engineers | 4 | 0.974 |
| 5 | Nuclear Engineers | 4 | 0.970 |
| 6 | Automotive Engineers | 4 | 0.963 |
| 7 | Petroleum Engineers | 4 | 0.961 |
| 8 | Industrial Ecologists | 5 | 0.960 |
| 9 | Validation Engineers | 4 | 0.960 |
| 10 | Microsystems Engineers | 5 | 0.958 |
One skill away
Among the 50 occupations most similar to Materials Scientists, those at the same Job Zone or lower, where exactly one skill rated at least 3 in importance needs a level more than 0.75 points higher (on O*NET's 0-7 level scale). Our definition. Change the thresholds.
| Occupation | Skill to build | Level gap | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petroleum Engineers | Systems Analysis | 0.76 | 0.961 |
| Hydrologists | Systems Analysis | 0.88 | 0.956 |
| Agricultural Engineers | Systems Analysis | 0.88 | 0.947 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | Technology Design | 1.63 | 0.945 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | Quality Control Analysis | 0.88 | 0.942 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | Technology Design | 2.00 | 0.938 |
Software to learn next
Software used by at least 3 of the 20 occupations most similar to Materials Scientists, excluding software Materials Scientists already lists and any you named. Ranked by how many of them use it, weighted by how much more common it is among them than across all occupations (lift). Our ranking.
| Software | Similar jobs using it | Lift |
|---|---|---|
| C++ | 17 of 20 | 7.1x |
| Dassault Systemes SolidWorks | 13 of 20 | 10.3x |
| Dassault Systemes CATIA | 13 of 20 | 10.0x |
| Autodesk AutoCAD | 18 of 20 | 4.9x |
| PTC Creo Parametric | 11 of 20 | 11.8x |
| C | 12 of 20 | 8.0x |
| Oracle Java | 13 of 20 | 6.1x |
| Microsoft Visual Basic | 12 of 20 | 5.8x |
| Linux | 13 of 20 | 4.9x |
| Finite element method FEM software | 6 of 20 | 25.2x |
Skills
From O*NET data. Importance is rated 1 to 5 and level 0 to 7.
| Skill | Type | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Science | Essential skill | 4.00 | 4.88 |
| Reading Comprehension | Essential skill | 4.00 | 4.75 |
| Critical Thinking | Essential skill | 4.00 | 4.25 |
| Active Listening | Essential skill | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Complex Problem Solving | Transferable skill | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Writing | Essential skill | 3.88 | 4.38 |
| Speaking | Essential skill | 3.75 | 4.12 |
| Active Learning | Essential skill | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | Transferable skill | 3.62 | 3.88 |
| Mathematics | Essential skill | 3.50 | 3.88 |
| Monitoring | Essential skill | 3.12 | 4.00 |
| Operations Analysis | Transferable skill | 3.12 | 3.88 |
| Systems Evaluation | Transferable skill | 3.12 | 3.25 |
| Persuasion | Transferable skill | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Learning Strategies | Essential skill | 3.00 | 3.38 |
| Systems Analysis | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Time Management | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Coordination | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Social Perceptiveness | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Instructing | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 3.12 |
| Quality Control Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Operations Monitoring | Transferable skill | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Service Orientation | Transferable skill | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Negotiation | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.62 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | Transferable skill | 2.50 | 3.00 |
| Management of Material Resources | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 2.12 |
| Management of Financial Resources | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 1.75 |
| Operation and Control | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Troubleshooting | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.75 |
| Technology Design | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 1.62 |
| Programming | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 1.00 |
| Equipment Selection | Transferable skill | 1.38 | 0.62 |
| Equipment Maintenance | Transferable skill | 1.38 | 0.50 |
| Repairing | Transferable skill | 1.38 | 0.38 |
| Installation | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
Knowledge (33) and abilities (52)
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering and Technology | 4.76 | 6.05 |
| Chemistry | 4.62 | 5.67 |
| Physics | 4.38 | 5.62 |
| Mathematics | 4.35 | 5.71 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.75 | 4.62 |
| Production and Processing | 3.70 | 4.29 |
| Design | 3.65 | 4.43 |
| Mechanical | 3.43 | 4.38 |
| English Language | 3.38 | 3.81 |
| Education and Training | 3.00 | 4.24 |
| Administration and Management | 2.81 | 4.05 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 2.30 | 2.60 |
| Administrative | 2.29 | 2.95 |
| Biology | 2.24 | 2.48 |
| Sales and Marketing | 2.20 | 2.19 |
| Building and Construction | 2.10 | 1.90 |
| Personnel and Human Resources | 2.05 | 2.52 |
| Economics and Accounting | 2.05 | 2.05 |
| Law and Government | 2.05 | 1.86 |
| Telecommunications | 2.05 | 1.20 |
| Communications and Media | 2.00 | 1.76 |
| Public Safety and Security | 1.95 | 1.76 |
| Transportation | 1.86 | 1.43 |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 1.76 | 1.19 |
| Foreign Language | 1.67 | 1.33 |
| Psychology | 1.62 | 1.19 |
| Food Production | 1.60 | 1.25 |
| History and Archeology | 1.52 | 1.33 |
| Geography | 1.45 | 1.20 |
| Therapy and Counseling | 1.29 | not rated |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 1.24 | not rated |
| Fine Arts | 1.19 | not rated |
| Philosophy and Theology | 1.19 | not rated |
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Oral Expression | 4.00 | 5.00 |
| Deductive Reasoning | 4.00 | 4.88 |
| Oral Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.88 |
| Written Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.88 |
| Written Expression | 4.00 | 4.88 |
| Inductive Reasoning | 4.00 | 4.75 |
| Problem Sensitivity | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Category Flexibility | 3.88 | 4.38 |
| Information Ordering | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Near Vision | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Fluency of Ideas | 3.38 | 3.88 |
| Originality | 3.25 | 4.12 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 3.25 | 3.88 |
| Flexibility of Closure | 3.25 | 3.62 |
| Number Facility | 3.12 | 3.38 |
| Speech Clarity | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Speech Recognition | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Visualization | 3.00 | 3.50 |
| Far Vision | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Perceptual Speed | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Selective Attention | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Visual Color Discrimination | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Time Sharing | 2.62 | 2.50 |
| Speed of Closure | 2.50 | 2.75 |
| Memorization | 2.50 | 2.50 |
| Auditory Attention | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Hearing Sensitivity | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Depth Perception | 2.00 | 1.75 |
| Wrist-Finger Speed | 2.00 | 1.12 |
| Control Precision | 1.88 | 1.50 |
| Finger Dexterity | 1.75 | 1.38 |
| Rate Control | 1.75 | 0.88 |
| Reaction Time | 1.75 | 0.88 |
| Manual Dexterity | 1.62 | 1.12 |
| Trunk Strength | 1.62 | 0.88 |
| Multilimb Coordination | 1.25 | not rated |
| Response Orientation | 1.25 | not rated |
| Dynamic Flexibility | 1.00 | not rated |
| Dynamic Strength | 1.00 | not rated |
| Explosive Strength | 1.00 | not rated |
| Extent Flexibility | 1.00 | not rated |
| Glare Sensitivity | 1.00 | not rated |
| Gross Body Coordination | 1.00 | not rated |
| Gross Body Equilibrium | 1.00 | not rated |
| Night Vision | 1.00 | not rated |
| Peripheral Vision | 1.00 | not rated |
| Sound Localization | 1.00 | not rated |
| Spatial Orientation | 1.00 | not rated |
| Speed of Limb Movement | 1.00 | not rated |
| Stamina | 1.00 | not rated |
| Static Strength | 1.00 | not rated |
Software used
Examples from O*NET data. "Hot" and "in demand" are O*NET flags for technologies often listed in job postings.
- Microsoft Excel in demand
- Microsoft Office software in demand
- Microsoft PowerPoint in demand
- Python in demand
- R in demand
- Hypertext markup language HTML hot
- IBM SPSS Statistics hot
- Microsoft Word hot
- The MathWorks MATLAB hot
- ANSYS LS-DYNA
- ANSYS Multiphysics
- Accelrys Materials Studio
- Advanced Chemistry Development Analytical Laboratory
- Bruker AXS EVA
- Bruker AXS LEPTOS
- Bruker AXS TOPAS
- Chempute Software HSC Chemistry
- CrystalMaker
- Dassault Systemes Abaqus
- Email software
- GAMESS-US
- General Structural Analysis System GSAS
- International Centre for Diffraction Data ICDD DDView
- Maplesoft Maple
- Materials Data Incorporated Jade
- Multichannel microelectrode analyzer MMA software
- National Instruments LabVIEW
- Olympus Image Analysis
- PANalytical X'Pert Data Collector
- PANalytical X'Pert Epitaxy
All 37
- PWscf
- RIETAN
- SolidWorks COSMOSWorks
- Stewart Computational Chemistry MOPAC
- VAMP/VASP
- Web browser software
- Wolfram Research Mathematica
Where it concentrates
Metro areas ranked by BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of the area's jobs divided by its share of all US jobs. Above 1 means more concentrated than the nation. Metros employing fewer than 100 are left out.
| Metro area | Employment | Location quotient | Median annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 150 | 6.25 | $132,650 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 110 | 6.06 | $123,070 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 700 | 4.74 | $132,600 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 200 | 3.33 | $107,500 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 380 | 2.97 | $231,710 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 180 | 2.95 | $231,920 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 120 | 2.87 | Not available |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 240 | 2.76 | $106,720 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 270 | 2.58 | $132,160 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 460 | 1.88 | $133,340 |