Career comparison
Heat Treating Operator vs. Materials Engineer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Materials engineers earn more at the median ($112,860 vs. $48,750), while heat treating operators usually get to work faster (A few months on the job of training). Heat treating operators heat and cool metal parts to make them harder, tougher or easier to machine. Materials engineers develop and test metals, plastics, ceramics and composites.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Heat Treating Operator | Materials Engineer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $48,750 ($23.44/hr) | $112,860 ($54.26/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $35,180 – $66,350 | $72,300 – $175,720 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -9.5% (a projected decline) | +7.5% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 1,100 | 1,300 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | A few months on the job | 4-year engineering degree |
| Key credential | ASM heat treating courses | PE license |
| Work setting | Heat treaters work in hot plant areas and commercial heat treat shops.. | Materials engineers work in labs, plants and offices.. |
What each job does
Heat Treating Operator
- Load furnaces
- Set cycles
- Quench parts
- Temper and anneal
- Test hardness
Materials Engineer
- Select materials
- Test properties
- Investigate failures
- Develop new materials
- Improve processes
How they’re similar
Both careers involve indoor work and working with information. They sit in different fields, mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing and science, engineering & lab, but share transferable skills such as attention to detail and curiosity.
Which should you choose?
Choose heat treating operator if…
- I like how metal works
- I follow procedures
- I don’t mind heat
Choose materials engineer if…
- I like chemistry and physics
- I like lab testing
- I like solving failures
Still torn? Take the Heat Treating Operator fit quiz and the Materials Engineer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, heat treating operator or materials engineer?
Materials Engineers earn more at the median: $112,860 versus $48,750 for heat treating operators, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Heat Treating Operators typically train faster (A few months on the job) than materials engineers (4-year engineering degree).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects materials engineers to grow +7.5% from 2025–35, compared with -9.5% for heat treating operators.