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Materials Engineers in Colorado

Materials Engineers in Colorado

Want to work as a Materials Engineers in Colorado? Here’s what the data says. Evaluate materials and develop machinery and processes to manufacture materials for use in products that must meet specialized design and performance specifications. Develop new uses for known materials. Includes those engineers working with composite materials or specializing in one type of material, such as graphite, metal and metal alloys, ceramics and glass, plastics and polymers, and naturally occurring materials. Includes metallurgists and metallurgical engineers, ceramic engineers, and welding engineers.

What do Materials Engineers Make in Colorado?

The materials engineers working in Colorado, wages run about $121,430 per year (or about $58.38/hour).Annual wages span from $76,740 at the 10th percentile to $183,630 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic Annual Hourly
10th percentile $76,740 $36.90
25th percentile $91,120 $43.81
Median (50th) $121,430 $58.38
75th percentile $165,170 $79.41
90th percentile $183,630 $88.28
Salary ranges for Materials Engineers in Colorado

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Colorado nationwide is 1.27, indicating that materials engineers are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, materials engineers earn a median of $52,129 per year ($25.06/hour), exceeding the Colorado median.

Materials Engineers earnings in Colorado vs. the national average

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 43,114 materials engineers across the United States. In Colorado alone, about 540 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 310 materials engineers.

Materials Engineers in Colorado vs. the average state Forecasted number of jobs for Materials Engineers

Top Colorado Metros for Materials Engineers

These are the Colorado metros with the most materials engineers in Colorado.

Metro Area Number Employed Annual Median Salary
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO 360 $123,700
Boulder, CO 100 $141,320

Top States for Materials Engineers Employment

View the states that employ the most materials engineers work.

State Number Employed
California 2,760
Ohio 1,770
Texas 1,730
Washington 1,240
Massachusetts 1,060
Michigan 1,030
Maryland 960
Pennsylvania 780
North Carolina 770
New York 750
Florida 680
Alabama 660
Virginia 620
Georgia 550
Tennessee 550
Colorado 540
Utah 490
Indiana 470
South Carolina 440
Connecticut 400

Highest-Paying States for Materials Engineers

Where materials engineers earn the most: materials engineers.

State Annual Median Salary
Washington $140,810
Maryland $130,920
Delaware $127,640
California $127,550
Oregon $127,360
New York $121,980
Colorado $121,430
Alaska $120,540
Texas $116,170
Wyoming $114,370

Skills

Key materials engineers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Science  4.0 / 5
0
5
Complex Problem Solving  4.0 / 5
0
5
Reading Comprehension  4.0 / 5
0
5
Active Listening  4.0 / 5
0
5
Critical Thinking  3.9 / 5
0
5
Mathematics  3.8 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Engineering and Technology  4.3 / 5
0
5
Chemistry  4.2 / 5
0
5
Physics  4.2 / 5
0
5
Production and Processing  4.1 / 5
0
5
Mathematics  4.1 / 5
0
5
English Language  3.9 / 5
0
5

Abilities

Key abilities for materials engineers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Category Flexibility  4.0 / 5
0
5
Inductive Reasoning  4.0 / 5
0
5
Oral Expression  4.0 / 5
0
5
Written Comprehension  4.0 / 5
0
5
Oral Comprehension  4.0 / 5
0
5
Deductive Reasoning  4.0 / 5
0
5

Daily Tasks

Materials Engineers typically:

  • Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.
  • Design and direct the testing or control of processing procedures.
  • Monitor material performance, and evaluate its deterioration.
  • Conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.
  • Evaluate technical specifications and economic factors relating to process or product design objectives.
  • Modify properties of metal alloys, using thermal and mechanical treatments.
  • Determine appropriate methods for fabricating and joining materials.
  • Guide technical staff in developing materials for specific uses in projected products or devices.
  • Review new product plans, and make recommendations for material selection, based on design objectives such as strength, weight, heat resistance, electrical conductivity, and cost.
  • Supervise the work of technologists, technicians, and other engineers and scientists.
  • Plan and implement laboratory operations to develop material and fabrication procedures that meet cost, product specification, and performance standards.
  • Plan and evaluate new projects, consulting with other engineers and corporate executives, as necessary.

Work Activities

  • Analyzing Data or Information
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Getting Information
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
  • Thinking Creatively
  • Working with Computers
  • Documenting/Recording Information
  • Processing Information
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Tools & Technology

Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Autodesk AutoCAD, C++ In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Related college programs include:

  • Materials Engineering
  • Textile Engineering
  • Polymer & Plastics Engineering
  • Metallurgical Engineering
  • Ceramic Engineering

Careers similar to materials engineers include:

Also Known As

Automotive Sheet Metal Engineer, Ceramic Design Engineer, Ceramic Engineer, Ceramic Research Engineer, Ceramics Test Engineer, Corrosion Engineer, Design Engineer, Engineer, Extractive Metallurgist, Extrusion Engineer, Failure Analysis Engineer, Forensic Materials Engineer, Foundry Metallurgist, Foundry Process Engineer, Glass Science Engineer.

References

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