Jobs Similar to Materials Scientists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to materials scientists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Materials Engineers, Nanosystems Engineers and Chemical Engineers.
Materials Scientists: $117,790 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Materials Scientists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Materials Engineers | 86% | $112,860−4% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Nanosystems Engineers | 84% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Chemical Engineers | 84% | $125,040+6% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Nuclear Engineers | 82% | $133,970+14% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Microsystems Engineers | 82% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Aerospace Engineers | 82% | $134,960+15% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Validation Engineers | 82% | $102,440Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Automotive Engineers | 81% | $104,110Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | HydrologistsSame group | 80% | $96,600−18% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Agricultural Engineers | 80% | $98,590−16% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Biochemists and Biophysicists | 80% | $127,410+8% | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Environmental Engineers | 80% | $107,110−9% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Food Scientists and Technologists | 79% | $88,720−25% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Electrical Engineers | 79% | $120,630+2% | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and GeographersSame group | 79% | $101,920−13% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Fuel Cell Engineers | 79% | $104,110Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar | 78% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | PhysicistsSame group | 78% | $172,250+46% | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Wind Energy Engineers | 78% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Industrial EcologistsSame group | 78% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
- 1Materials Engineers
86% similar · $112,860 (−4%) · Bachelor's degree
- 2Nanosystems Engineers
84% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 3Chemical Engineers
84% similar · $125,040 (+6%) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Nuclear Engineers
82% similar · $133,970 (+14%) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Microsystems Engineers
82% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 6Aerospace Engineers
82% similar · $134,960 (+15%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Validation Engineers
82% similar · $102,440 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Automotive Engineers
81% similar · $104,110 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Hydrologists
80% similar · $96,600 (−18%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Agricultural Engineers
80% similar · $98,590 (−16%) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Biochemists and Biophysicists
80% similar · $127,410 (+8%) · Graduate degree
- 12Environmental Engineers
80% similar · $107,110 (−9%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Food Scientists and Technologists
79% similar · $88,720 (−25%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Electrical Engineers
79% similar · $120,630 (+2%) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
79% similar · $101,920 (−13%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 16Fuel Cell Engineers
79% similar · $104,110 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar
78% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Physicists
78% similar · $172,250 (+46%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 19Wind Energy Engineers
78% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Industrial Ecologists
78% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than materials scientists.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for materials scientists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where materials scientists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like materials scientists
What jobs are most similar to materials scientists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Materials Engineers (86% similar), Nanosystems Engineers (84% similar), Chemical Engineers (84% similar), Nuclear Engineers (82% similar) and Microsystems Engineers (82% similar).
Which jobs like materials scientists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Physicists ($172,250, +46%; usually a graduate degree), Aerospace Engineers ($134,960, +15%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Nuclear Engineers ($133,970, +14%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with materials scientists ($117,790). Without more preparation than materials scientists usually need: Aerospace Engineers, Nuclear Engineers and Chemical Engineers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.