Materials Engineeringat University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Graduates earn $71,174/yr in their first year — right at the national average. Base-case 10-year earnings $863K; scenarios range from $747K to $906K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Washington
The University of Washington's Materials Engineering program places you in a vibrant ecosystem, with the strong regional economy of Seattle shaping your career trajectory. The demand for materials expertise in the Pacific Northwest—spanning aerospace giants like Boeing, burgeoning biomedical firms, and tech hardware innovators at Microsoft and Amazon—creates robust opportunities. This deep industry integration means you'll likely find internships and full-time roles focused on advanced composites, semiconductor materials, or sustainable solutions.
While the field faces a high AI risk, this signifies a transformation, not obsolescence. Materials engineering involves significant data analysis and predictive modeling, areas where AI will become a powerful tool. Your success will hinge on embracing these evolving technologies. Focus on developing strong computational skills, complementing your core engineering knowledge, and actively seek out interdisciplinary projects that merge materials science with data analytics to future-proof your career.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Washington's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Materials Engineering
How University of Washington stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Washington
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Washington, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Materials Engineering at University of Washington
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Materials Engineering at University of Washington-Seattle Campus?
This program scores 71/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Materials Engineering nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Materials Engineering careers?
With 48% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $747,213 in decade earnings vs $906,481 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of Washington-Seattle Campus's Materials Engineering program stand out?
Ranked #5 of 33 programs nationally, University of Washington-Seattle Campus lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.