by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Materials Chemistry involves the study of Materials Chemistry. A Program That Focuses On The Synthesis And Study Of Organic Or Inorganic Materials And Their Electronic, Magnetic, Optical Or Mechanical Properties. Includes Instruction In Advanced Materials For Photonics, Lasers, Chemical Sensors And Arrays Or Nanochemistry; Semiconductor Nanowires; And Molecular Electronics. Continue reading for the essential details every materials chemistry major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering materials chemistry programs.
In the U.S., materials chemistry draws strong interest, with 16 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Materials Chemistry Schools ranking analyzes these 6 schools to determine the best overall colleges for materials chemistry students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of materials chemistry programs later in this article.
Programs in Materials Chemistry build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations materials chemistry graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a materials chemistry program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a materials chemistry major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several materials chemistry 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 | 1 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 5 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 10 |
People currently working in careers related to materials chemistry tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 37.7% |
| Master’s degree | 17.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 12.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 11.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 5.1% |
| Some college courses | 4.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.4% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in materials chemistry careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying materials chemistry opens doors to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to materials chemistry.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to materials chemistry.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | 398,348 | 7.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Quality Control Analysts | 105,873 | 12.9% |
| Chemists | 91,666 | 3.1% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | 71,781 | 0.4% |
| Remote Sensing Technicians | 30,427 | -2.2% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of materials chemistry graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $72,216 |
| 4 years | $78,243 |
| 5 years | $89,182 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for materials chemistry graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers materials chemistry grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Materials Scientists | $101,265 |
| Remote Sensing Technicians | $99,834 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $95,957 |
| Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | $69,509 |
| Chemists | $59,779 |
With 6 different materials chemistry programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased materials chemistry school rankings to help you.
Those considering materials chemistry, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Materials Science | 624 |
| Materials Sciences, Other | 10 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
