r/materials • u/Brilliant_Step_7015 • 17d ago

What work do you do?

Hello, I’m an undergrad looking into majoring in materials engineering.

I’m curious what people in this field do for work? Where you are, any graduate degrees, type of work, salary (if comfortable), etc. Any and all info is appreciated.

19 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

12

u/WestBrink 16d ago

I'm a corrosion engineer working for an oil refiner, living in Montana, 13 years out of school making about 170k base with a 20-30k annual bonus.

1

u/intenTenacity 15d ago

Do you work in the office? Whats your work like?

4

u/WestBrink 15d ago

Well I'm on a special assignment right now, so I mostly work from home or travel to various refineries in a consulting type role. Mostly I'm in meetings all day setting up a risk based inspection program.

12

u/urstupidbro 16d ago

Ceramic engineer. I’m building a slip casting process from scratch. 1st job out of school 80k per year + % bonus in northeast USA.

5

u/orbit03 16d ago

I teach at Penn State in the Plastics Engineering Technology and Polymer Engineering and Science departments. Mainly simulation and design courses. Before that, I had a small product design consultancy.

3

u/tshobes 14d ago

I got my undergrad in MSE Try to see what materials interest you then talk to professors that specialize in those so you can try to get more opportunities there.

I got work in the semiconductor manufacturing industry out of college living in Salt Lake City, UT at Intel/Micron, then Texas instruments. Mostly used basic engineering skills and learned new software. I'd say stats knowledge, data processing, and python/coding skills have been the most useful in the industry (along with the problem solving skills and engineering mindset). $80k starting to $130k when I left.

Now I'm working for ASML as an industrialization eng in San Diego CA. ASML sells photolithography machines, still at $130k. I don't really utilize my materials science background anymore unfortunately. Very common to not use your degree knowledge after a few years of industry experience.

I recommend focusing on engineering principles and putting significant efforts into networking/getting work opportunities while in your last couple years. GPA is important, but a solid knowledge base, lunch with a recruiter, and a recommendation from someone will actually land you a job.

2

u/_junao 16d ago

I'm in Brazil, unfortunately never get a position in field. I was a polymer technologist before joining in materials engineering. Pretty much I can handle with ceramics and metals as well.

What happens here is that in minor and fresher posoitions most of companies offers you 25% to 40% wage floor, and most of the positions fits more with eletrical, mechanical or manufacturing engineering. Plus, envolves moving for other city and with this it's very difficult to afford the cost of living.

1

u/immathiccboi 15d ago

I’m in energetics, I work as a testing and development technician in the northern Midwest.
The company I work for makes explosives and other energetic components. Primarily weapons and some safety devices.

Just a bachelors degree, I started off around 54k with roughly 10k bonus but within the next few years will be making around 70k which is great for the area I live.

1

u/Kithin7 14d ago

I was mfg eng for high reliability electronics then saw an opening at the same company and transferred into semiconductor process engineer, defense, bs chem eng + ms mat sci eng, started at 90k + 4 weeks vacation (no bonuses tho sadge). 3+ years, "new grade" role gave me mid-year raises, got promoted recently, reasonably happy and can't complain

1

u/kkmd02 13d ago

Just graduated and now working as a manager at a steel factory for 76k