Materials Engineers vs Civil Engineers
Median pay is about $12k higher for Materials Engineers. Both usually start with the same education: bachelor's.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Materials Engineers | Civil Engineers |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $112,860, higher | $100,840 |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $88,080, higher | $79,930 |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $142,720, higher | $129,680 |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +7.5% Growing fast, higher | +6.4% Growing fast |
| Openings a year | 1,300 | 22,700 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Bachelor's | Bachelor's |
| Difficulty modeled | 3 / 5 | 3.4 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Moderate | Low |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 35th pct | 74th pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Materials Engineers
- Science
Only Civil Engineers
- Mathematics
Both lean on reading comprehension, active listening, critical thinking, writing, speaking.
More comparisons
Compare Materials Engineers with
Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.