Also called: Friction and Wear Engineer, Lubrication Engineer
Scientist-engineer who studies friction, wear and lubrication to make machines last longer.
You slide two pieces of metal against each other in a test rig a million times and measure how much wears away under a microscope. Then you test a new oil additive to see if it cuts friction. Your results might save a wind farm millions in replaced gearboxes.
Small field; pay varies by industry (oil companies, automotive, bearings).
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 9 years after high school. Bachelor's in mechanical engineering or materials science; most tribologists have a master's or PhD.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry.
Growing about average. Tiny but steady niche.
Low risk for 10 years. Machine learning helps sort wear data and suggest lubricant blends; designing experiments and reading worn surfaces under a microscope stays hands-on.
Classes: Chemistry, Physics, AP Calculus, Shop or auto tech.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2141.
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.