Also called: Metallurgical Engineer
Specializes in metals: how to melt, mix, shape, and heat-treat them for the best properties.
You work in a steel mill, foundry, or aerospace plant, checking how metals are processed and looking at their microscopic grains to make sure parts won't fail.
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 metallurgical or materials engineering.
Ways in: 4-year college. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering.
Growing faster than average (about 6% over 10 years). Growth is for materials engineers overall.
Low risk for 10 years. Sensors and AI help control furnaces, but checking processes and grain structure in mills and plants stays human.
Classes: Chemistry, Physics, Welding or metalshop CTE.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2131.
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