Ceramics Engineer

Also called: Ceramic Engineer, Glass Engineer

Works with ceramics and glass, from phone screens and spark plugs to space shuttle heat tiles.

A day in the life

You press a ceramic powder into a shape, fire it in a kiln at 1,600°C, and then test whether it survives being heated and plunged into cold water. The goal: a part for a jet engine that can take extreme heat.

Pay over a career

Starting
$65k
Typical
$98k
High
$140k

Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.

Training

Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in ceramic or materials engineering.

Ways in: 4-year college. Training cost: $15k – $60k.

Majors to look at: Ceramic Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering.

Outlook

Growing faster than average (about 6% over 10 years).

Will it last? Our AI estimate

Low risk for 10 years. AI helps design glass and ceramic recipes; firing, testing and fixing processes in real kilns stay hands-on.

Start now, in high school

Classes: Chemistry, Physics, Ceramics or pottery art class, Algebra II.

Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2131.

More Materials Engineering careers

Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.