Also called: Cathodic Protection Engineer, Integrity Engineer
Stops rust and chemical attack from destroying pipelines, bridges, ships and chemical plants.
You inspect a pipeline that runs under a river, reading data from electrodes that protect it from rusting. You design new coatings and a system that sends a small electric current through the pipe to stop corrosion.
Rust costs the U.S. hundreds of billions a year, so these experts are valued.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in materials, chemical or mechanical engineering; AMPP (NACE) certification.
Ways in: 4-year college, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Materials Science & Engineering, Chemical Engineering.
Growing faster than average (about 6% over 10 years).
Low risk for 10 years. Sensors and AI predict where rust will strike; field inspections and choosing fixes for pipelines and bridges stay human.
Classes: Chemistry, Physics, Earth science, Algebra II.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2131.
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