Materials Engineers

Materials Engineers score 49 out of 100, which is elevated exposure to AI. That ranks #261 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 21 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 3 on its own and 14 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 5 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

49/ 100

Elevated

Rank: #261of 923 jobs
US workers: 22,770BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $112,860a year
In real AI use: 5 of 21tasks, April–May 2026

Free report

Follow how AI is changing materials engineers work.

Subscribe to the weekly report and get The AI Job Exposure Report (PDF) right away: the most and least exposed jobs, exposure by field, and the AI-resilient jobs that pay well.

Free · one email a week · unsubscribe anytime

Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 3 (14%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 14 (67%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 4 (19%)

Perform managerial functions, such as preparing proposals and budgets, analyzing labor costs, and writing reports.AI can speed this up on its own · core task · Seen in real AI use
Replicate the characteristics of materials and their components, using computers.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Write for technical magazines, journals, and trade association publications.AI can speed this up on its own · core task · Seen in real AI use
Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Design and direct the testing or control of processing procedures.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Monitor material performance, and evaluate its deterioration.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Evaluate technical specifications and economic factors relating to process or product design objectives.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Determine appropriate methods for fabricating and joining materials.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Guide technical staff in developing materials for specific uses in projected products or devices.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Review new product plans, and make recommendations for material selection, based on design objectives such as strength, weight, heat resistance, electrical conductivity, and cost.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Supervise the work of technologists, technicians, and other engineers and scientists.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Plan and implement laboratory operations to develop material and fabrication procedures that meet cost, product specification, and performance standards.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Plan and evaluate new projects, consulting with other engineers and corporate executives, as necessary.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Solve problems in a number of engineering fields, such as mechanical, chemical, electrical, civil, nuclear, and aerospace.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Present technical information at conferences.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Design processing plants and equipment.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Modify properties of metal alloys, using thermal and mechanical treatments.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Supervise production and testing processes in industrial settings, such as metal refining facilities, smelting or foundry operations, or nonmetallic materials production operations.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Conduct training sessions on new material products, applications, or manufacturing methods for customers and their employees.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Teach in colleges and universities.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task · Seen in real AI use

What you can do about it

Get a personal plan for what to learn next.

Skill Half Life turns this score into a 90-day plan for your situation: your realistic options, the skills that carry over, and training that fits your time and budget. Coming soon.

See your options

Similar jobs, lower exposure

Related occupations that score at least 10 points lower.

Other jobs in this field

Architecture and Engineering occupations close to this one.

All architecture and engineering jobs and AI

Questions about materials engineers and AI

Will AI replace materials engineers?

Not entirely. Parts of the job are likely to change as AI takes over routine tasks. Materials Engineers score 49 out of 100 (elevated exposure), #261 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 17 of the job's 21 tasks, 3 of them on its own, while 4 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which materials engineers tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Perform managerial functions, such as preparing proposals and budgets, analyzing labor costs, and writing reports"; "Replicate the characteristics of materials and their components, using computers"; "Write for technical magazines, journals, and trade association publications".

Which materials engineers tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Modify properties of metal alloys, using thermal and mechanical treatments"; "Supervise production and testing processes in industrial settings, such as metal refining facilities, smelting or foundry operations, or nonmetallic materials production operations"; "Conduct training sessions on new material products, applications, or manufacturing methods for customers and their employees".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 5 of the 21 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as materials engineers, and what do they earn?

About 22,770 people in the US, with median pay of $112,860 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.