Fuel Cell Engineers
Design, evaluate, modify, or construct fuel cell components or systems for transportation, stationary, or portable applications.
Also called: Engineer · Fuel Cell Engineer · Research Engineer · Stack Engineer
Median pay (national)
$102,320
$68,740–$161,240 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
286,760
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+9.1%
~18,100 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for fuel cell engineers shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $161,240 versus $68,740 at the bottom 10% — 2.3x. The median of $102,320 leaves roughly 58% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +9.1% from 2024 to 2034 — much faster than the 3% average for all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 18,100 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 53 states with released data, New Mexico pays the most for this role (median $141,490, +38% vs the national median), while Guam sits lowest at $60,700 — a 133% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Writing as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags MathWorks Simulink, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft PowerPoint as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Speaking
- Science
- Active Listening
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Mathematics
- Learning Strategies
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Plan or conduct experiments to validate new materials, optimize startup protocols, reduce conditioning time, or examine contaminant tolerance.
- Provide technical consultation or direction related to the development or production of fuel cell systems.
- Characterize component or fuel cell performances by generating operating maps, defining operating conditions, identifying design refinements, or executing durability assessments.
- Plan or implement fuel cell cost reduction or product improvement projects in collaboration with other engineers, suppliers, support personnel, or customers.
- Conduct fuel cell testing projects, using fuel cell test stations, analytical instruments, or electrochemical diagnostics, such as cyclic voltammetry or impedance spectroscopy.
- Analyze fuel cell or related test data, using statistical software.
- Conduct post-service or failure analyses, using electromechanical diagnostic principles or procedures.
- Define specifications for fuel cell materials.
- Recommend or implement changes to fuel cell system designs.
- Validate design of fuel cells, fuel cell components, or fuel cell systems.
Tools & technology
- MathWorks Simulink
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Python
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- C
- C++
- Microsoft Windows
- Oracle Database
- Ansoft Simplorer
- Ansys Fluent
- ASPEN PLUS
- FactSage
- Failure mode and effects analysis FMEA software
Knowledge areas
- Engineering and Technology
- Chemistry
- Design
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Computers and Electronics
- Mechanical
- Production and Processing