Microsystems Engineers build complex problem solving, systems analysis and judgment and decision making skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Materials Scientists (86%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Materials Scientists | 86% | $117,790 | — | None |
| 2 | Physicists | 77% | $172,250 | — | None |
| 3 | Computer and Information Research Scientists | 77% | $140,300 | — | None |
| 4 | Biochemists and Biophysicists | 74% | $127,410 | — | None |
| 5 | Hydrologists | 74% | $96,600 | — | None |
| 6 | Bioinformatics Scientists | 74% | $98,920Pay for the broader BLS group “Biological Scientists, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 7 | Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 73% | $74,510 | — | None |
| 8 | Geodetic Surveyors | 73% | $75,440Pay for the broader BLS group “Surveyors” | Not compared | None |
| 9 | Astronomers | 73% | $128,820 | — | None |
| 10 | Water Resource Specialists | 72% | $167,220Pay for the broader BLS group “Natural Sciences Managers” | Not compared | None |
Compared with Microsystems Engineers, median —. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as microsystems engineers (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
86% skill match · $117,790
No work-context factor stands out as unusually hard in O*NET data.
77% skill match · $172,250
Programming · Instructing · Complex Problem Solving
No work-context factor stands out as unusually hard in O*NET data.
77% skill match · $140,300
Programming · Technology Design · Judgment and Decision Making
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Materials Scientists (86% skill match, median $117,790), Physicists (77% skill match, median $172,250) and Computer and Information Research Scientists (77% skill match, median $140,300), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
None of the 25 closest matches pays more than microsystems engineers at the national median (BLS May 2025). Higher-paying moves usually need more training.
25 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.