Materials Science Major Guide: Overview and RoEDU™ Opportunities 2025

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.

Salary Outlook

Entry-level salary
$88,536

Typical starting pay soon after graduation.

Mid-career salary (10y)
$116,893

Estimated after a decade of experience.

Experienced salary (20y)
$131,183

Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.

Weighted median over last 5 years
CAGR 1.2%

CAGR (compound annual growth rate) summarizes average yearly change across the observed period.

Estimated lifetime earnings

40 years, present value
$2,546,168

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.

Career Opportunities & Salaries

Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) • Median wages, employment, and growth projections

OccupationMedian WageTotal JobsGrowth RateEducation
Architectural and Engineering Managers
SOC: 11-9041
Occupation: Architectural and Engineering Managers
$167,740
210,340
N/A
N/A
Natural Sciences Managers
SOC: 11-9121
Occupation: Natural Sciences Managers
$161,180
100,870
N/A
N/A
Chemists
SOC: 19-2031
Occupation: Chemists
$84,150
83,250
N/A
N/A
Materials Scientists
SOC: 19-2032
Occupation: Materials Scientists
$104,160
8,330
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
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC: 25-1032
Occupation: Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary
$106,120
39,910
N/A
N/A

Historical Career Trends (2020-2024)

Historical data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020-2024) • Salary trends and employment growth over 5 years

Materials Scientists

4.7%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$104,1608,330
2023$106,1608,810
2022$104,3807,620
2021$100,0906,690
2020$99,4606,930

Colleges offering Materials Science

University of Rochester

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$41k

Earnings

$76k

Northwestern University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$24k

Earnings

$84k

University of Delaware

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$18k

Earnings

$66k

Montana Technological University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$16k

Earnings

$64k

Columbia University in the City of New York

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$21k

Earnings

$97k