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Mechanical Engineer vs Materials Engineer: pay, jobs and what each takes
Mechanical engineers and materials engineers and chemists side by side: what each earns by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and by the jobs open today, how many jobs there are, and the education and credentials each takes.
Mechanical Engineer vs Materials Engineer, side by side
| Mechanical engineer | Materials engineer | |
|---|---|---|
| Open jobs on this board today | 725 | 80 |
| Median posted hourly pay (open jobs) | $149,400 | $150,000 |
| Median hourly pay (BLS) | - | - |
| Median yearly pay (BLS) | - | - |
| Projected employment change (BLS) | - | - |
| Openings a year (BLS) | - | - |
| Typical education to enter (BLS) | - | - |
| Credentials | Security clearance (Secret, Top Secret, TS/SCI); Professional Engineer license (PE) | Security clearance (Secret, Top Secret, TS/SCI) |
Mechanical Engineer vs Materials Engineer: common questions
Are there more mechanical engineer or materials engineer jobs?
On this board today: 725 open mechanical engineer jobs and 80 materials engineer jobs, read from each employer's own job board.
What is the difference between a mechanical engineer and a materials engineer?
Space companies hire mechanical engineers to design the vehicle's structures, mechanisms and thermal systems, and the equipment that handles it on the ground. Space companies hire materials engineers and chemists to choose, qualify and test the metals, composites and chemicals their vehicles are made of and run on.
How do you become a mechanical engineer or a materials engineer?
A mechanical engineering degree, and CAD and analysis tools on real hardware. A degree in materials science, metallurgy, chemistry or chemical engineering. Each occupation's page lists its credentials and who grants them: Mechanical engineers, Materials engineers and chemists.
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- Test Engineer vs Systems Engineer
- Manufacturing Engineer vs Quality Engineer
- Aerospace Technician vs Machinist
- Machinist vs Welder
- Aerospace Technician vs Manufacturing Engineer
- Program Manager vs Product Manager
- Data Scientist vs Software Engineer
- Mission Operations Engineer vs Systems Engineer
Sources and method
Pay and outlook are BLS's figures for each occupation's main SOC code; open jobs and their posted median are this board's, counted as each occupation's own page counts them.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and Employment Projections
- SpaceJobs.Now job board: open jobs read every night from each employer's own careers site
Cite this page
SpaceJobs.Now. (2026). Mechanical Engineer vs Materials Engineer: Pay, Jobs and Requirements Compared. Data as of 7 Nov 2026. https://spacejobs.now/compare-careers/mechanical-engineer-vs-materials-engineer