Materials Science Degree
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Table of Contents
Materials scientists work at the forefront of technology, applying physics, chemistry, and biology to compose new products—many of which have the potential to greatly improve our quality of life. A materials science degree uses math and science to discover new materials that can outperform existing materials. Students will study the relationship between the structures and properties of solids in a variety of materials (from the nano- to the macro) such as metals, plastics, ceramics, rubber, biomaterials, electronic materials, and more.
Materials Science Careers
The career trajectory of people with a Materials Science degree appears to be focused around a few careers. The most common career that users with Materials Science degrees have experience in is Materials Scientist, followed by Nanotechnology Engineer, Industrial Engineer, Engineer, Scientist, Chemist, Graduate Teaching Assistant, Professor, Sales Representative, and Office Clerk.
| Career | % of graduates | % of population | Multiple | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials Scientist | 10.8% | 0.0% | 378.4× | ||
| Nanotechnology Engineer | 3.0% | 0.0% | 158.3× | ||
| Industrial Engineer | 3.0% | 0.1% | 29.8× | ||
| Engineer | 3.5% | 1.0% | 3.5× | ||
| Scientist | 3.7% | 0.2% | 20.4× | ||
| Chemist | 1.5% | 0.2% | 8.1× | ||
| Graduate Teaching Assistant | 3.0% | 0.1% | 23.3× | ||
| Professor | 1.4% | 0.2% | 5.9× | ||
| Sales Representative | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1.0× | ||
| Office Clerk | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1.1× | ||
Materials Science Salary
Materials Science graduates earn on average $60k, putting them in the 90th percentile of earners with a degree.
| Percentile | Earnings after graduation ($1000s USD) | |
|---|---|---|
| 25th (bottom earners) | $39k | |
| Median (average earners) | $60k | |
| 75th (top earners) | $65k | |
Materials Science Underemployment
Materials Science graduates are highly employed compared to other graduates. We have collected data on three types of underemployment. Part-time refers to work that is less than 30 hours per week. Non-college refers to work that does not require a college degree. Low-paying includes a list of low-wage service jobs such as janitorial work, serving, or dishwashing.
| Employment Type | Proportion of graduates | |
|---|---|---|
| Part-Time | 24% | |
| Jobs that don't require college | 13% | |
| Low-paying | 2% | |
