Also called: Polymer Process Engineer, Injection Molding Engineer
Designs plastic parts and the molds and processes that make them, from phone cases to medical tubing.
You study why a batch of bottle caps has tiny bubbles, run a mold-flow simulation and adjust temperatures on a molding press. You might design a new mold with the toolmaker or test a recycled plastic blend to see if it's strong enough.
Estimated from BLS materials engineer wages.
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 plastics engineering, polymer science or mechanical/materials engineering.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Plastics Engineering, Polymer Science, Materials Science & Engineering, Mechanical Engineering.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years). About average growth; recycled and bio-based plastics are growing areas.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI speeds part design and mold-flow simulation; solving real molding defects and choosing materials stay human.
Classes: AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Calculus.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2131.
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.