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Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Nanosystems Engineers

Part of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics, in the Engineering and Technology pathway.

Job zone 5: extensive preparationO*NET 17-2199.09

What the work is

Design, develop, or supervise the production of materials, devices, or systems of unique molecular or macromolecular composition, applying principles of nanoscale physics and electrical, chemical, or biological engineering.

On a typical day

  • Write proposals to secure external funding or to partner with other companies.
  • Supervise technologists or technicians engaged in nanotechnology research or production.
  • Synthesize, process, or characterize nanomaterials, using advanced tools or techniques.
  • Identify new applications for existing nanotechnologies.
  • Provide technical guidance or support to customers on topics such as nanosystem start-up, maintenance, or use.
  • Generate high-resolution images or measure force-distance curves, using techniques such as atomic force microscopy.

What it pays

$117,620
Median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro
New workers start near $79,240
Experienced workers reach $160,020
  1. $79k10th
  2. $96k25th
  3. $118kMedian
  4. $139k75th
  5. $160k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $79,240, 25th $95,540, Median $117,620, 75th $139,010, 90th $160,020

About 760 people do this job in the San Antonio area.

Job outlook

Alamo region (Bexar and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034. U.S. figures from the BLS for comparison.

+11.9%

employment change in the Alamo region, 959 to 1,073 jobs · U.S. +2%

68

openings a year in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 9,300

959

employed in the Alamo region in 2024 · U.S. 158,800

Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

  1. Reading Comprehension5.0
  2. Critical Thinking4.9
  3. Science4.8
  4. Speaking4.3
  5. Active Learning4.9
  6. Mathematics4.8
  7. Writing4.6
  8. Complex Problem Solving4.1

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

  1. Bachelor's degree24%
  2. Master's degree10%
  3. Doctoral or professional67%

Job zone 5, extensive preparation: A graduate or professional degree, usually after a bachelor's.

Alamo programs that lead here

  • Northeast Lakeview
  • Northwest Vista
  • San Antonio
  1. Engineering

    Transfer pre-major · Science & Technology

  2. Engineering

    Transfer pre-major · Science & Technology

  3. Engineering

    Transfer pre-major · Science & Technology

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