Materials Engineers vs Mechanical Engineers: AI exposure, pay and openings
AI use is higher in mechanical engineers work: 8% of tasks (little observed) against 0% for materials engineers (little observed). Materials Engineers has the higher median pay, $112,860 a year against $104,110, a gap of $8,750.
Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet.
Side by side
| Measure | Materials Engineers | Mechanical Engineers |
|---|---|---|
| Tasks that already see AI use | 0% (Little observed) | 8% (Little observed) |
| Median pay a year | $112,860 | $104,110 |
Exposure: Anthropic Economic Index, March 2026. Pay, growth and openings: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The full check for each job
- Materials Engineers: tasks, related jobs and skills to build
- Mechanical Engineers: tasks, related jobs and skills to build