by our College Data Analytics TeamPlastics have been useful materials since they were developed. However, not all plastics are the same. If you know the difference between these materials and are interested in customizing them for specific industrial uses, Polymer and Plastics Engineering is your major.
As a Polymer and Plastics Engineering student, you will take classes in the plastics industry, chemistry, manufacturing, applied mathematics, polymer synthesis, and thermoforming. These classes will teach you the skills to customize plastics for specific uses, design and create new light-weight materials, and tailor material properties.
A degree in Polymer & Plastics Engineering involves the study of Polymer/plastics Engineering. Read on to learn the key facts every polymer & plastics engineering student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering polymer & plastics engineering programs.
Nationwide, polymer & plastics engineering is a popular field of study, with 264 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Polymer & Plastics Engineering Schools ranking analyzes these 14 schools to determine the best overall colleges for polymer & plastics engineering students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of polymer & plastics engineering programs later in this article.
Programs in Polymer & Plastics Engineering emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations polymer & plastics engineering graduates commonly enter.
Students who excel in this career have a strong background in math and science. Polymer and Plastics Engineering deals a lot with the makeup of materials, requiring a strong understanding of chemistry. Students must also have problem solving and critical thinking skills to develop new materials and products and fix any issues that may come up during the testing phase. Strong teamwork and communication skills allow students to work well with other professionals when working on a project.
Most polymer and plastics engineers work full time in a laboratory or industrial setting. This allows professionals to work in research and development while keeping an eye on the results of their projects.
Practical experience is important in this field and employers often look for it on resumes when hiring. Students can gain this experience through internships or cooperative engineering programs. These programs allow students to earn college credit while working at a relevant location.
Although graduates will be able to find jobs with their bachelor's degree, if you would like to conduct research and development, you will have to obtain your master's degree. This advanced degree will also allow graduates to move into higher management positions.
The skill set emphasized by a polymer & plastics engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a polymer & plastics engineering major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several polymer & plastics 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 109 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 87 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 68 |
People currently working in careers related to polymer & plastics engineering tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 36.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 24.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 12.0% |
| Master’s degree | 11.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 10.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in polymer & plastics engineering careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Polymer and Plastics Engineering graduates have a variety of career options available to them. These materials are used in many different fields opening up careers in aeronautics, architecture, and electronic component manufacturing among others.
Since many fields are constantly looking for new and better materials, Polymer and Plastics Engineering graduates will likely be in demand. Those who have previous experience in the field will have an easier time finding a job.
Studying polymer & plastics engineering prepares you for many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to polymer & plastics engineering.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to polymer & plastics 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% |
| Chemical Engineers | 215,233 | 0.7% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
| Materials Engineers | 40,988 | -4.9% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of polymer & plastics engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $74,032 |
| 4 years | $85,028 |
| 5 years | $100,025 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for polymer & plastics engineering graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers polymer & plastics engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Chemical Engineers | $130,903 |
| 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 14 different polymer & plastics engineering programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased polymer & plastics engineering school rankings to help you.
Students interested in polymer & plastics engineering, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Polymer/Plastics Engineering | 264 |
| 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.
