Materials Scientists
Research and study the structures and chemical properties of various natural and synthetic or composite materials, including metals, alloys, rubber, ceramics, semiconductors, polymers, and glass. Determine ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials with new or specific properties for use in a variety of products and applications. Includes glass scientists, ceramic scientists, metallurgical scientists, and polymer scientists.
Based on O*NET work context for this occupation. This score does not predict individual job losses.
What drives the score
Automation and repetition raise exposure; freedom to set tasks lowers it. Each measure uses a 0–100 scale.
How well your skills transfer
Each skill is scored on how well it transfers into occupations that are growing and less exposed. The ones high on both importance and transfer are worth deepening.
| Skill | Transferability | Importance in current role |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 63 | 75 |
| Critical Thinking | 63 | 75 |
| Speaking | 63 | 69 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 63 | 66 |
| Monitoring | 63 | 53 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 62 | 75 |
| Active Learning | 62 | 69 |
| Coordination | 62 | 50 |
| Reading Comprehension | 61 | 75 |
| Time Management | 61 | 50 |
Show 25 more skills
| Skill | Transferability | Importance in current role |
|---|---|---|
| Writing | 60 | 72 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 60 | 50 |
| Learning Strategies | 58 | 50 |
| Instructing | 58 | 47 |
| Systems Analysis | 57 | 50 |
| Systems Evaluation | 56 | 53 |
| Service Orientation | 56 | 44 |
| Persuasion | 54 | 53 |
| Mathematics | 53 | 63 |
| Science | 52 | 75 |
| Negotiation | 52 | 41 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 50 | 38 |
| Operations Analysis | 49 | 53 |
| Installation | 48 | 0 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 47 | 47 |
| Management of Financial Resources | 47 | 28 |
| Management of Material Resources | 47 | 28 |
| Troubleshooting | 47 | 25 |
| Technology Design | 47 | 22 |
| Equipment Selection | 47 | 9 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 47 | 9 |
| Operations Monitoring | 46 | 44 |
| Repairing | 46 | 9 |
| Programming | 45 | 22 |
| Operation and Control | 43 | 25 |
Compare how well you can use each skill in growing, low-exposure occupations with its importance in your current role. How we score skills.
Jobs you could move to
Compare related occupations by skill overlap, retraining effort, pay and projected growth. Choose a priority to adjust the ranking. Licensing requirements may limit some routes.
- Median pay · U.S.
- $120,230
- 10-yr growth
- +34.6%
- Skill gap
- 3%
- Retraining
- Low
Skills to build: Speaking, Active Learning, Instructing, Systems Analysis
- Median pay · U.S.
- $132,300
- 10-yr growth
- +41%
- Skill gap
- 11%
- Retraining
- Low
Skills to build: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Monitoring, Coordination
- Median pay · U.S.
- $175,140
- 10-yr growth
- +15.8%
- Skill gap
- 15%
- Retraining
- Moderate
Skills to build: Management of Personnel Resources, Management of Financial Resources, Monitoring, Coordination
- Median pay · U.S.
- $166,570
- 10-yr growth
- +9.7%
- Skill gap
- 6%
- Retraining
- Low
Skills to build: Monitoring, Systems Analysis, Negotiation, Judgment and Decision Making
- Median pay · U.S.
- $135,880
- 10-yr growth
- +21.1%
- Skill gap
- 8%
- Retraining
- Low
Skills to build: Monitoring, Operations Monitoring, Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness
- Median pay · U.S.
- $328,730
- 10-yr growth
- +6.8%
- Skill gap
- 8%
- Retraining
- Low
Skills to build: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Negotiation, Management of Personnel Resources
A second source of income, before you need it
This page can tell you where Materials Scientists could go and what the move costs. The other route is not a move at all: something small of your own, running alongside the job, started while there is no pressure on it.
Where to learn the missing half: Google Career Certificates for systems analysis · active learning, LinkedIn Learning for writing · speaking, edX for mathematics · reading and PlanetNoCode for complex problem solving. Some of those are affiliate links. It never changes what we list.
Snapshot: O*NET 31.0, BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS Employment Projections 2025-2035. Scoring v2.1.0-onet-31.0. Method on the how it works page.