Ceramic Engineer

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Work Tasks

• Find new ways to make useful products from ceramic materials
• Study the things that make up ceramic materials
• Work on glassware, auto engine parts, fiber-optics, tile, electric power line insulators, and many other things which are not metal and are made using high temperatures
• Test clays, silicas, and other non-metal materials
• Work for stone, clay, and glass industries; industries that make machinery, electrical equipment, aircraft parts; research and testing services; the government; and engineering consulting firms
• Work with testing equipment and nonmetallic and nonliving materials which need high temperatures in processing, such as glass, china, porcelain, bricks, tiles, and ceramics

Salary, Size & Growth

• $80,500 average per year ($38.75 per hour)
• A small occupation (21,800 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (0.9% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A 4-year degree in engineering
• Employers Prefer: A master's degree in ceramic engineering
• Certification/Licensing: A license may be needed, which requires a degree, 4 years experience, and passing a test.