A materials scientist is a scientist concerned primarily with the field of materials – both natural and artificial (man-made) ones. The job encompasses a variety of duties, but in general a materials scientist is utilized to develop new products, optimize current designs and in general improve designs which rely on materials for their performance heavily. The fields that utilize the skills of materials scientists include construction, electronics, automobile manufacturing, as well as various other fields – and the job keeps seeing more and more recognition as the necessity for it grows.
To get a job as a materials scientist, a degree in materials science or material engineering is usually required. A Bachelor’s is enough in most cases, though some companies may require candidates with a Master’s degree, especially when the job concerns some high-ranking project that needs careful attention, planning and experienced personnel. Typically, a materials scientist will work closely with a small team of other scientists, but it’s not uncommon for them to be given individual assignments as well.
Materials scientists earn very well, similarly to other jobs in the science sector. Normally, the annual salary for one would be between $64,000 – $105,000. Some companies pay even higher than that, especially when they’re hiring scientists to work on high-profile projects with a high earning potential. It should be noted that the job has seen a large improvement in its popularity in recent times, leading to more and more people trying to find employment in such a position.