metallurgical technician
Metallurgical technicians provide technical support in researching and performing experiments on minerals, metals, alloys, oil and gas. They also assist in improving the methods of extraction.
metallurgical technician metallurgical technicians provide technical support in researching and performing experiments on minerals, metals, alloys, oil and gas. They also assist in improving the methods of extraction. The role shows moderate AI exposure (0.50 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include non-ferrous metal processing, precious metals, corrosion types, alloys of precious metals, ferrous metal processing.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £38,963 a year for Inspectors of standards and regulations (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £33,485 to £44,532 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 3581). ONS rates this estimate reasonably precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Technicians and associate professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only metallurgical technician, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 3. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- Engineering and Technology
- English Language
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Geography
- Customer and Personal Service
What you'd actually do
- Test and analyze samples to determine their content and characteristics, using laboratory apparatus or testing equipment.
- Collect or prepare solid or fluid samples for analysis.
- Compile, log, or record testing or operational data for review and further analysis.
- Prepare notes, sketches, geological maps, or cross-sections.
- Participate in geological, geophysical, geochemical, hydrographic, or oceanographic surveys, prospecting field trips, exploratory drilling, well logging, or underground mine survey programs.
- Prepare or review professional, technical, or other reports regarding sampling, testing, or recommendations of data analysis.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does metallurgical technician do?
Metallurgical technicians provide technical support in researching and performing experiments on minerals, metals, alloys, oil and gas. They also assist in improving the methods of extraction.
What skills does metallurgical technician need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include non-ferrous metal processing, precious metals, corrosion types, alloys of precious metals, ferrous metal processing, types of metal. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace metallurgical technician?
Our AI-durability model gives metallurgical technician a score of 0.50 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.