Headline risk
9%
Low RiskMaterials scientists
United States AI Work Index tracks this occupation on the shared structural baseline and then layers on local demand resilience, wages, and confidence.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
Research and study the structures and chemical properties of various natural and synthetic or composite materials, including metals, alloys, rubber, ceramics, semiconductors, polymers, and glass. Determine ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials with new or specific properties for use in a variety of products and applications. Includes glass scientists, ceramic scientists, metallurgical scientists, and polymer scientists.
Task evidence
100% weighted task match · 12% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 104,160
Employment 2024
8.7K
Projected Change (2024–34)
4.9%
Openings (2024–34)
0.6K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Overall employment of chemists and materials scientists is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Conduct research on the structures and properties of materials, such as metals, alloys, polymers, and ceramics, to obtain information that could be used to develop new products or enhance existing ones. AI use: 0%
- 2. Prepare reports, manuscripts, proposals, and technical manuals for use by other scientists and requestors, such as sponsors and customers. AI use: 95%
- 3. Determine ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials with new or specific properties for use in a variety of products and applications. AI use: 0%
- 4. Recommend materials for reliable performance in various environments. AI use: 0%
- 5. Plan laboratory experiments to confirm feasibility of processes and techniques used in the production of materials with special characteristics. AI use: 0%
- 6. Devise testing methods to evaluate the effects of various conditions on particular materials. AI use: 0%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Worker profile
Median age 39.8 · 106K employed
Under 25: 8% · 25–54: 71% · 55+: 22%
Related
No direct US role match is available yet for this occupation.
Source coverage
11/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Mapping quality
crosswalk_exact · employment series present
Narrative & sources
Chemists and materials scientists research and analyze the chemical properties of substances to develop new materials, products, or knowledge.
Chemists and materials scientists work in laboratories, offices, and manufacturing facilities. Most work full time.
To enter the occupation, chemists and materials scientists typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in chemistry or a related field. However, they may need a master’s degree or Ph.D. for some jobs, such as research positions.
The median annual wage for chemists was $84,150 in May 2024.
Overall employment of chemists and materials scientists is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
Published limitations
This page shows the local country layer, not realised individual job outcomes. The global structural baseline is shared across countries; only the local demand and wage layer changes here.
Built from O*NET occupation descriptions, task statements, technology skills, work context, Job Zones, Anthropic task penetration, BLS OEWS wages, BLS projection tables, BLS ORS requirements, BLS OOH narrative content, BLS skills data, and BLS CPS occupation age tables.