Career comparison
Materials Engineer vs. Mechanical 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. $104,110), while materials engineers usually get to work faster (4-year engineering degree of training). Materials engineers develop and test metals, plastics, ceramics and composites. Mechanical engineers design machines, engines, tools and products that move and work.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Materials Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $112,860 ($54.26/hr) | $104,110 ($50.05/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $72,300 – $175,720 | $73,990 – $164,340 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +7.5% (much faster than average) | +11.2% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 1,300 | 17,800 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4-year engineering degree | 4 years |
| Key credential | PE license | Engineer in Training (EIT) |
| Work setting | Materials engineers work in labs, plants and offices.. | Mechanical engineers work in offices, labs and plants.. |
What each job does
Materials Engineer
- Select materials
- Test properties
- Investigate failures
- Develop new materials
- Improve processes
Mechanical Engineer
- Design mechanical systems and products
- Create CAD models
- Analyze stress, heat and fluids
- Build and test prototypes
- Develop manufacturing processes
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, in-demand, problem-solving, and indoor work. Both are part of the science, engineering & lab field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose materials engineer if…
- I like chemistry and physics
- I like lab testing
- I like solving failures
Choose mechanical engineer if…
- I love how machines work
- I enjoy math and physics
- I like designing products
Still torn? Take the Materials Engineer fit quiz and the Mechanical Engineer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, materials engineer or mechanical engineer?
Materials Engineers earn more at the median: $112,860 versus $104,110 for mechanical engineers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Materials Engineers typically train faster (4-year engineering degree) than mechanical engineers (4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects mechanical engineers to grow +11.2% from 2025–35, compared with +7.5% for materials engineers.