Mostly Resilient
Last Update: 11/4/2026
AI Resilience Score for Materials Engineers:
56.9%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
Med
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
Med
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
High
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
Limited data sources are available, or existing sources show notable disagreement on the outlook for this occupation.
AI Resilience Report forMaterials Engineers
$112,860 median salary•1,300 annual openings•SOC Code: 17-2131.00
Materials Engineers are somewhat more resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 6 sources.
Materials engineering is labeled "Mostly Resilient" because AI is changing *how* engineers work rather than replacing them altogether. Tools like self-driving labs and simulation software are taking over repetitive tasks (like running thousands of experiments), but the work of supervising teams, making safety calls on products like jet parts or medical implants, and translating results into real-world solutions still requires human judgment and accountability.
Learn more about how you can thrive in this position
This role is mostly resilient
Materials engineering is labeled "Mostly Resilient" because AI is changing *how* engineers work rather than replacing them altogether. Tools like self-driving labs and simulation software are taking over repetitive tasks (like running thousands of experiments), but the work of supervising teams, making safety calls on products like jet parts or medical implants, and translating results into real-world solutions still requires human judgment and accountability.
Read full analysisAnalysis of current AI resilience
Materials Engineers
Updated quarterly
How can Materials Engineers prepare for AI?
Latest AI news for Materials Engineers
These articles highlight how AI is transforming the field of materials engineering, offering exciting opportunities for future careers. For instance, AI is cutting R&D cycles in aerospace materials by up to 70%, enabling faster innovations that materials engineers can leverage. Additionally, generative AI is creating vast libraries of theoretical materials, opening new avenues for discovery. As the industry evolves, embracing AI tools will be crucial for materials engineers, ensuring they remain resilient and relevant in a rapidly changing landscape.
AI Disrupts Advanced Aerospace Materials Engineering as Global Investment Surpasses $650 Billion in Infrastructure Buildout
finance.yahoo.com • 9/20/2026
AI is reducing aerospace materials R&D cycles by 50% to 70% and unscheduled repairs by up to 40% as digital twins, predictive maintenance...
AI Disrupts Engineering Resins and Polymer Materials
www.globenewswire.com • 8/19/2026
Learn how AI is reshaping material innovation, production processes, and competition in the global engineering resins, polymer alloys and...
AI-powered open-source infrastructure for accelerating materials discovery and advanced manufacturing
www.nature.com • 2/17/2026
Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) offer significant opportunities to drive industrial transformation by addressing growing...
How generative AI can help scientists synthesize complex materials
news.mit.edu • 2/2/2026
Generative artificial intelligence models have been used to create enormous libraries of theoretical materials that could help solve all...
AI can transform innovation in materials design – here's how
www.weforum.org • 6/24/2025
The new materials market offers opportunities for artificial intelligence for science to revolutionize R&D. Data-driven material discovery...
More Career Info
Career: Materials Engineers
They create and test materials to make products stronger, lighter, or better, like designing new metals for cars or plastics for smartphones.
Parent Careers
Alternate Titles
Materials Research Engineer · Metallurgist · Process Engineer · Textile Engineer · Automotive Sheet Metal Engineer · Ceramic Engineer · Extrusion Engineer · Materials Development Engineer · Metallurgical Engineer
Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$112,860
Jobs (2025)
23,800
Growth (2025-35)
+7.5%
Annual Openings
1,300
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025-2035
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Teach in colleges and universities.
2
Supervise the work of technologists, technicians, and other engineers and scientists.
3
Present technical information at conferences.
4
Guide technical staff in developing materials for specific uses in projected products or devices.
5
Plan and evaluate new projects, consulting with other engineers and corporate executives, as necessary.
6
Supervise production and testing processes in industrial settings, such as metal refining facilities, smelting or foundry operations, or nonmetallic materials production operations.
7
Plan and implement laboratory operations to develop material and fabrication procedures that meet cost, product specification, and performance standards.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
