Metallurgical Technician

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Work Tasks

• Help engineers find new metals and ways to get metal out of ores
• Look at metals under microscopes and test metals to find out their grain, soundness, toughness, and defects
• Polish metal samples and take pictures of them using a photomicroscope
• Set up, operate, and clean labs; do tests to make sure products are high quality
• Work indoors for metal-producing industries, metallurgical labs, research and testing services, the government, and industries that make aircraft and aircraft parts, machinery, and electrical equipment
• Work with metals, alloys, photomicroscopes, photomicrographs, lab equipment, pressure devices; and gamma-ray, x-ray, and magnetic-flux equipment

Salary, Size & Growth

• $48,500 average per year ($23.25 per hour)
• A medium occupation (66,600 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (0.7% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A high school diploma and courses in engineering technology
• Employers Prefer: A 2-year degree in metallurgical engineering technology
• Skills/Courses: Courses in algebra, trigonometry, science, engineering, and technology
• Certification/Licensing: Certification is available.