The Materials Science major builds core foundations in this discipline and prepares students with practical, career-relevant skills. Use RoEDU™ to find programs that match your goals.
Within Sciences, students often explore key subfields and specializations that provide targeted expertise.
Graduates translate classroom knowledge into real-world impact across sectors through hands-on projects and internships.
As part of Sciences, this major connects to diverse, high-demand fields and interdisciplinary pathways.
Typical starting pay soon after graduation.
Estimated after a decade of experience.
Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.
CAGR (compound annual growth rate) summarizes average yearly change across the observed period.
Employment-weighted across mapped SOCs; entry ≈ 85% of median; historical CAGR shown for last 5y; projections capped at 3% CAGR; lifetime is 40-year present value at 3% discount.
Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) • Median wages, employment, and growth projections
| Occupation | Median Wage | Total Jobs | Growth Rate | Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Materials Scientists SOC: 19-2032 Occupation: Materials Scientists | $104,160 | 8,330 | N/A | N/A |
Natural Sciences Managers SOC: 11-9121 Occupation: Natural Sciences Managers | $161,180 | 100,870 | N/A | N/A |
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other SOC: 19-4099 Occupation: Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $60,130 | 71,400 | N/A | N/A |
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary SOC: 25-1052 Occupation: Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | $86,220 | 20,390 | N/A | N/A |
Architectural and Engineering Managers SOC: 11-9041 Occupation: Architectural and Engineering Managers | $167,740 | 210,340 | N/A | N/A |
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other SOC: 25-1199 Occupation: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $78,490 | 151,530 | N/A | N/A |
Historical data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020-2024) • Salary trends and employment growth over 5 years
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $104,160 | 8,330 |
| 2023 | $106,160 | 8,810 |
| 2022 | $104,380 | 7,620 |
| 2021 | $100,090 | 6,690 |
| 2020 | $99,460 | 6,930 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $161,180 | 100,870 |
| 2023 | $157,740 | 96,520 |
| 2022 | $144,440 | 82,570 |
| 2021 | $137,900 | 74,760 |
| 2020 | $137,940 | 75,870 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $60,130 | 71,400 |
| 2023 | $58,350 | 72,230 |
| 2022 | $50,290 | 70,770 |
| 2021 | $49,030 | 62,230 |
| 2020 | $52,460 | 62,080 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $86,220 | 20,390 |
| 2023 | $85,810 | 20,210 |
| 2022 | $80,720 | 20,650 |
| 2021 | $79,410 | 20,260 |
| 2020 | $80,400 | 21,530 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $167,740 | 210,340 |
| 2023 | $165,370 | 207,800 |
| 2022 | $159,920 | 197,180 |
| 2021 | $152,350 | 187,100 |
| 2020 | $149,530 | 195,900 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $78,490 | 151,530 |
| 2023 | $79,870 | 166,980 |
| 2022 | $76,920 | 214,520 |
| 2021 | $78,160 | 199,020 |
| 2020 | $71,950 | 194,740 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $84,150 | 83,250 |
| 2023 | $84,680 | 83,530 |
| 2022 | $80,670 | 83,940 |
| 2021 | $79,430 | 80,600 |
| 2020 | $79,300 | 82,940 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $106,120 | 39,910 |
| 2023 | $106,910 | 38,370 |
| 2022 | $103,550 | 36,010 |
| 2021 | $104,940 | 35,440 |
| 2020 | $103,600 | 38,520 |