Materials Engineers

Most exposed tasks

Highest structured exposure values in this role’s task mix — the work AI systems can already do most of.

• Replicate the characteristics of materials and their components, using computers.70

Augmentable tasks

Work where AI assists rather than replaces — the productivity frontier of this role.

• Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.55
• Evaluate technical specifications and economic factors relating to process or product design objectives.55
• Perform managerial functions, such as preparing proposals and budgets, analyzing labor costs, and writing reports.55

Most durable tasks

Lowest exposure — typically judgment, relationships, physical presence, or accountability. This is the human moat.

• Modify properties of metal alloys, using thermal and mechanical treatments.18
• Supervise the work of technologists, technicians, and other engineers and scientists.20
• Guide technical staff in developing materials for specific uses in projected products or devices.25

Task exposure values and classifications are published, versioned estimates audited against the anchored rubric. This page reads them from the data release rather than generating them at request time. Bars show exposure contribution relative to this role’s task mix.

What this means

A score of 40 puts Materials Engineers in the third quartile of analyzed occupations. In practice, exposure this high is about the mix: 1 of 20 analyzed tasks lean automatable, 11 augmentable, and 8 durable. The useful question isn’t “will AI take this job” — it’s which tasks go first, which get faster, and where to reposition time. That’s what the personalized report maps against your actual week.

Lower-exposure adjacent roles

No adjacent role in the current data release is at least 10 points lower with ≥50% skill overlap — we don’t label anything “safer” unless the data supports it.

Labor-market context

• $112,860median wage
• 22,770employed
• 1,500annual openings
• +5.7%projected growth

Context only — labor statistics are not inputs to the exposure score. See methodology.

Related roles

Adjacent by skills or family — no exposure claim implied.

• Materials Scientists 38
• Chemical Engineers 40
• Manufacturing Engineers 45
• Industrial Engineers 49
• Mechanical Engineer 42
• Nanosystems Engineers 38

How this score was calculated

FAQ — Materials Engineers

Will AI replace Materials Engineers?

This score cannot predict whether this occupation or any individual job will be replaced. It shows which tasks current and near-term AI can perform or accelerate, which tasks remain more durable, and where a worker can adapt. Employer decisions, demand, regulation, and how the role changes are outside the score.

What does a score of 40 mean for a Materials Engineers?

It means that, weighted across the 20 tasks we analyzed for this role, the task mix sits at 40 on a 0–100 exposure scale — in the third quartile of analyzed occupations. It measures task exposure to current and near-term AI capabilities, not the probability of losing a job.

Which tasks in this role are most exposed to AI?

The highest-exposure tasks are: Replicate the characteristics of materials and their components, using computers. Exposure comes from the published, rubric-scored data release rather than being generated when you open this page.

Which parts of this job are most durable?

The most durable responsibilities are: Modify properties of metal alloys, using thermal and mechanical treatments; Supervise the work of technologists, technicians, and other engineers and scientists; Guide technical staff in developing materials for specific uses in projected products or devices. Durable tasks typically depend on judgment, relationships, physical presence, or accountability.

Is this score personalized to me?

No — this page shows the occupation-level baseline. Two people with the same title often do different work. The $9 personalized report recalculates the score from the tasks you actually do and builds a concrete 7/30/90-day plan around them.