by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Metallurgical Engineering will allow you become intimate with the three branches of metallurgy: physical metallurgy, extractive metallurgy, and mineral processing. This is a specific type of materials engineering that will teach you the different properties of metals and how they are involved in manufacturing. You will also learn how to test different metals through hands-on experiments to discover how they stand up to stress and other conditions.
Some courses you may take could include: chemistry, materials science, engineering, engineering mechanics, physics, statistics, experimental techniques, energy resources, and hydrometallurgy.
A degree in Metallurgical Engineering involves the study of Metallurgical Engineering. Read on to learn the key facts every metallurgical engineering student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering metallurgical engineering programs.
Across the country, metallurgical engineering is a widely-pursued major, with 164 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Metallurgical Engineering Schools ranking analyzes these 10 schools to determine the best overall colleges for metallurgical engineering students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of metallurgical engineering programs later in this article.
Coursework for Metallurgical Engineering build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations metallurgical engineering graduates commonly enter.
This is a great field for a curious learner who loves to spend time exploring and experimenting. Metallurgical Engineering majors spend a lot of time experimenting, research and writing reports on their findings. You will need to use critical thinking to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your conclusions.
Students should enjoy using math and science to help solve puzzles and complex problems. Most engineers will continue to actively learn after they graduate while on the job in order to understand new information and figure out different problem sets. Hone your communication skills while still in college in order to clearly articulate concepts both in speaking and writing.
Many schools will require at the minimum of summer internship, but most will ask you to work a co-op in order for you to get real world experience in the workforce. This experience makes you more valuable than a person without working a co-op job.
The skill set emphasized by a metallurgical engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a metallurgical engineering major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several metallurgical engineering degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 125 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 29 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 9 |
People currently working in careers related to metallurgical engineering tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 40.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 17.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 12.8% |
| Master’s degree | 12.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 12.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.3% |
| First professional degree | 1.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in metallurgical engineering careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Graduates have found jobs in all types of companies that work with metals. This could include cars, bikes, buildings, but even something like a toothpaste tube. As a metallurgic engineer you could work in research and development, production, design, or manufacturing.
The job prospect looks good for metallurgic engineers because many people in this field are starting to retire. That means new college graduates will be looked at to fill these positions.
Studying metallurgical engineering prepares you for a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to metallurgical engineering.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to metallurgical engineering.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
| Materials Engineers | 40,988 | -4.9% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of metallurgical engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $74,103 |
| 4 years | $85,392 |
| 5 years | $90,051 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for metallurgical engineering graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers metallurgical engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,889 |
| Materials Engineers | $52,129 |
With 10 different metallurgical engineering programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased metallurgical engineering school rankings to help you.
Students interested in metallurgical engineering, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Metallurgical Engineering | 164 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 42,939 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 26,760 |
| Civil Engineering | 20,005 |
| Computer Engineering | 19,986 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 13,914 |
| Engineering, General | 13,411 |
| Chemical Engineering | 10,939 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 9,596 |
| Industrial Engineering | 8,533 |
| Systems Engineering | 3,956 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
