Jobs Similar to Validation Engineers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to validation engineers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Industrial Engineers, Materials Engineers and Materials Scientists.
Validation Engineers: $102,440 (broader BLS group) · 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. Validation Engineers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Industrial EngineersSame group | 82% | $102,440 | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Materials EngineersSame group | 82% | $112,860 | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Materials Scientists | 82% | $117,790 | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and InspectorsSame group | 81% | $115,160 | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Aerospace EngineersSame group | 81% | $134,960 | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Nuclear EngineersSame group | 80% | $133,970 | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Microsystems EngineersSame group | 80% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Chemical EngineersSame group | 80% | $125,040 | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Wind Energy EngineersSame group | 79% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Energy Engineers, Except Wind and SolarSame group | 79% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | 79% | $61,560 | Training or associate |
| 12 | Mechanical EngineersSame group | 79% | $104,110 | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Electrical EngineersSame group | 79% | $120,630 | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Automotive EngineersSame group | 79% | $104,110Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Food Scientists and Technologists | 79% | $88,720 | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 79% | $66,120 | Training or associate |
| 17 | Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 78% | $64,950 | Training or associate |
| 18 | Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety EngineersSame group | 78% | $106,220 | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | 77% | $90,150 | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Environmental EngineersSame group | 77% | $107,110 | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Industrial Engineers
82% similar · $102,440 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Materials Engineers
82% similar · $112,860 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Materials Scientists
82% similar · $117,790 · Bachelor's degree
- 4Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
81% similar · $115,160 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Aerospace Engineers
81% similar · $134,960 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Nuclear Engineers
80% similar · $133,970 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 7Microsystems Engineers
80% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 8Chemical Engineers
80% similar · $125,040 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 9Wind Energy Engineers
79% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar
79% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 11Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
79% similar · $61,560 · Training or associate
- 12Mechanical Engineers
79% similar · $104,110 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 13Electrical Engineers
79% similar · $120,630 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 14Automotive Engineers
79% similar · $104,110 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 15Food Scientists and Technologists
79% similar · $88,720 · Bachelor's degree
- 16Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
79% similar · $66,120 · Training or associate
- 17Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians
78% similar · $64,950 · Training or associate
- 18Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
78% similar · $106,220 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 19Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
77% similar · $90,150 · Bachelor's degree
- 20Environmental Engineers
77% similar · $107,110 · Bachelor's 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 need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for validation engineers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where validation engineers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Quality Control Systems Managers (85)
- Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers (81)
- Materials Scientists (80)
- Food Scientists and Technologists (79)
- Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians (78)
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists (77)
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers (76)
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors (76)
- Penetration Testers (76)
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians (75)
Questions about jobs like validation engineers
What jobs are most similar to validation engineers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Industrial Engineers (82% similar), Materials Engineers (82% similar), Materials Scientists (82% similar), Health and Safety Engineers (81% similar) and Aerospace Engineers (81% similar).
Do jobs like validation engineers pay more?
None of the 20 most similar careers has a higher BLS median pay than validation engineers where a direct comparison is possible.
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.