Compare careers

Factual side-by-side attributes from the imported O*NET and BLS OEWS datasets. No career is ranked or recommended.

Career A (or your current career)

Materials Engineers

Career B (or your target career)

Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Opens your browser print dialog — choose “Save as PDF”.

Comparison table

MetricMaterials EngineersMechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
National median salary$112,860$74,510
Local median salaryNot publishedNot published
National employment22,77036,190
Typical educationBachelor's DegreeBachelor's Degree
Job zone43
Important skillsMathematics, Complex Problem Solving, Reading Comprehension, Science, WritingReading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Speaking
Related careersPhotonics Technicians, Architectural and Engineering Managers, Electronics Engineers, Except Computer, Mechatronics EngineersSoftware Developers, Aerospace Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Electrical and Electronics Drafters

Career transition: skill overlap

Skill overlap

95%

19 of 20 target skills

Target-only skills

1

Current-only skills

4

Skill overlap compares O*NET skills rated at importance 3.0 or above for each occupation. It is a measure of listed skill overlap, not a probability of getting the job.

Shared skills

  • Active Listening
  • Critical Thinking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Speaking
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Writing
  • Operations Monitoring
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Systems Analysis
  • Mathematics
  • Time Management
  • Systems Evaluation
  • Active Learning
  • Monitoring
  • Persuasion
  • Coordination
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Science

Only in Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians

  • Operation and Control

Only in Materials Engineers

  • Operations Analysis
  • Instructing
  • Management of Personnel Resources
  • Learning Strategies