How to Become a Metallurgical Engineer

A metallurgical engineer discovers ways to use metal in machinery and for other industrial uses. They are a branch of materials engineering. For those with the proper education, materials and metallurgical engineers can earn a high salary. Education is important for this lucrative but competitive job. However, there are thousands of professionals in metallurgical engineering with both private industry and the federal government.

The United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics tabulates job information for metallurgical engineers in the overall “materials engineers” category. This engineering job classification also includes ceramic and welding engineers. Thus, the statistics cited here will be somewhat lower for the actual number of jobs in metallurgical engineering. For that reason and for employment purposes in general, it is wise to prepare for a career as a materials engineer and include education and training in metallurgical engineering as part of a broader approach to career planning and development. However, you can specialize in college in this particular subset of materials engineering if you are willing to go to one of the limited accredited schools.

To become a metallurgical engineer, you need at least a bachelor’s degree and may need to shoot for a master’s degree in a related engineering graduate degree program. First, you should check out schools with accredited metallurgical engineering programs. ABET is the leading accrediting body for educational engineering degree programs. As of September 2011, it had accredited 8 schools that offer programs in this field. They include the University of Alabama, Colorado School of Mines, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Montana Tech of the University of Montana, University of Nevada at Reno, the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, the University of Texas at El Paso, and the University of Utah.

You may also choose to attend a larger number of accredited programs for materials engineering. As of September 2011, there were 57 accredited degree programs in materials engineering. You may look these up by using the search page for accredited engineering programs. There is a link in the Resources section at the end of this article.

Once you get your education and training out of the way, there are jobs as a metallurgical engineer for aerospace companies, semiconductor/electronics companies, the federal government, and some other manufacturers and wholesalers. There were 21,830 overall materials engineers in May of 2010. They were earning a salary of about $83,120.

Resources:

ABET Accredited Schools Search

Bureau of Labor Statistics: Job and Salary Information for Materials and Metallurgical Engineers


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