<p>This experimental study highlights the feasibility of using polymeric and composite materials to design efficient and sustainable shear connectors achieving the required structural performance while maintaining thermal insulation and lightweight advantages. The experimental performance of shear connectors made of polymeric materials in insulated precast concrete sandwich panels (PCSPs) under direct shear is investigated in this work. Thirty specimens were fabricated and divided into ten groups; each group contains a connector of a different material and shape. Conventional steel, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), carbon-filled polytetrafluoroethylene (C-PTFE), and steel-carbon have been employed as shear connectors between concrete layers. The results showed that steel connectors recorded the highest shear strength, while composite connectors offered a balanced performance in strength and ductility. The Steel-Carbon Tube SCT composite connector's ultimate shear strength was approximately 55% of its steel counterpart's, with a ductility ratio of 7.63, indicating its high capacity for gradual deformation before failure. In contrast, polymer connectors exhibited ductile behavior and moderate strength, making them a promising alternative in applications that require thermal insulation and corrosion resistance properties with acceptable structural performance.</p>