Careers in Metallurgical Engineering

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Choosing Your Career

Your choice of career will obviously have a major impact on your life in the future. Most people find this choice difficult to make mostly because it is so hard to get useful information about the many career paths open to you. It is also difficult to find out what it will be like when you start your first job in your chosen career.

We have assembled some information here that could help you decide whether a career as a metallurgical engineer is right for you. Remember that the information assembled here relates only to metallurgical engineering, and you should visit many other sites before making a final choice. Use all the resources of your school's vocational center also. Time spent in doing this will not be wasted.

Remember that your interests will change over the years, and your career path will take many unexpected turns. Career choices are never irrevocable, but a good and wise choice when you enter college will greatly enhance your college and early professional experience.

Job Prospects and Salaries

The metallurgical profession is extremely diverse, and it offers a wide variety of career opportunities for young people who have an interest in technology, science and engineering. Metallurgical engineers are employed in every industry and enterprise that produces, buys, sells refines or manufactures metals or metallic products. You have probably heard many times that modern societies cannot function without a plentiful supply of every concievable type of metal and alloy and that people who are skilled in the use or production of metals and metallic materials of all kinds are highly valued. This is indeed true, and metallurgical engineers command good salaries, and young metallurgical graduates can expect to be able to choose from some exciting career alternatives. You can get some idea about salaries that are offered to graduates in various professions from the data presented in the table. The table shows statistics relating to average annual salaries offered to applicants with bachelors degrees made during the year ending in Fall 2005.

Top Jobs for 2005-06 Graduates

(by number of offers reported)*

Field of employment	Average Salary Offer
Management Trainee	$36,063
Teaching	$31,328
Sales	$36,713
Consulting	$47,780
Accounting (Private)	$42,178
Financial/Treasury Analysis	$44,185
Accounting (Public)	$42,296
Design/Construction Engineering	$45,738
Project Engineering	$48,159
Software Design&Development	$52,502
Registered Nurse	$41,166

*Source: Fall 2005 Salary Survey, NACE

These numbers show that young graduates in engineering command attractive starting salaries. Engineering majors usually rank as the top-paying fields and 2005-06 was no exception.  The rankings reflect the highest paid majors for Bachelor's degree gradautes and only contain engineering majors.

Top Paid Majors for 2005-06 Graduates*

Major	Average Salary
Petroleum Engineering	$62,236
Chemical Engineering	$53,639
Computer Engineering	$52,242
Electrical/Electronics & Communications Engineering	$51,773
Materials Engineering**	$51,372
Aerospace/Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering	$51,217
Systems Engineering	$50,767
Computer Science	$50,664
Mechanical Engineering	$50,175
Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering	$49,678

*Source: Fall 2005 Salary Survey, NACE

**Metallurgical engineering is catergorized as a materials engineering discipline in national surveys. The job placement rate for graduates of our department has been near 100% for the past several years and that trend appears to be holding for the foreseeable future.  There are more than 100 companies that make metal or metal parts or distribute metal products in Utah. The size of the metals and metal part manufacturing industries allows for significant employment opportunities locally and nationally.

More Information

The following web sites will provide you with additional information about careers in engineering and science. Many provide additional sources such as brochures, pamphlets, videos, and CDs. If your school vocational center cannot provide you with examples of these media, please contact us or phone (801) 581-6386, and we will probably be able to assist you to obtain whatever you need.

Contact us to order your own free copy of our video that describes metallurgical engineering.
Junior Engineering Technical Society	This society exists to promote interest in Engineering, Science, Mathematics and Technology. This site describes a number of interesting activities related to careers in engineering.
National Engineering Aptitude Search	This is a useful academic self assessment system that helps high school students to determine their strengths and weaknesses in subject areas that are important in engineering and technology.
Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration	This society serves the professional needs of metallurgy and mining engineers in the USA. Metallurgical Engineers who work in the mining and metal production industries. For a free booklet from SME, "Careers in the Minerals Industry," click on the picture at left.
The Minerals, Metals and Exploration Society	This society serves the professional needs of metallurgical engineers in the USA. Click on the link to access the Index of Learning Styles (ILS) self test.
The Sloan Career Cornerstone Series	This series of CDs and videos provides a wealth of information on various careers.
University of Utah Career Services	The University of Utah Career Services has one of the largest career libraries in the country. This site provides significnt resources that can help you make appropriate career decisions. You can visit the Career Services offices during normal working hours. Registration for non-students can be arranged by the Department of Metallurgical Engineering. You are encouraged to register with the Career services while you are still at school
Mineral Information Institute, Inc.	If you would like to have more information on minerals and metals included in your classroom activities encourage your teachers to receive free helper Packs of teaching materials from the Mineral Information Institute. This organization produces a wide variety of materials that support many fun and interesting educational activities.