Chemical Engineers: Career Overview
Design chemical plant equipment and devise processes for manufacturing chemicals and products, such as gasoline, synthetic rubber, plastics, detergents, cement, paper, and pulp, by applying principles and technology of chemistry, physics, and engineering.
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What Tasks Do Chemical Engineers Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of chemical engineers include:
- Develop safety procedures to be employed by workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions.
- Troubleshoot problems with chemical manufacturing processes.
- Monitor and analyze data from processes and experiments.
- Evaluate chemical equipment and processes to identify ways to optimize performance or to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
- Design and plan layout of equipment.
- Prepare estimate of production costs and production progress reports for management.
- Perform tests and monitor performance of processes throughout stages of production to determine degree of control over variables such as temperature, density, specific gravity, and pressure.
- Conduct research to develop new and improved chemical manufacturing processes.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective chemical engineers combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Chemical Engineers Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Absorption and Adsorption Engineer
- Blending Coordinator
- Chemical Design Process Engineer
- Chemical Engineer
- Chemical Process Engineer
- Chemical Research Engineer
- Chemical Test Engineer
- Control Systems Engineer
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 213,738 chemical engineers working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +0.7% over the projection horizon.
Chemical Engineers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $130,903 |
| Hourly median | $62.93 |
| 10th percentile | $90,609 |
| 25th percentile | $110,756 |
| 75th percentile | $151,050 |
| 90th percentile | $171,197 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Chemical Engineers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Oklahoma | $160,990 |
| New Mexico | $147,290 |
| West Virginia | $139,730 |
| Texas | $135,160 |
| Virginia | $132,550 |
| New York | $132,480 |
| Colorado | $131,740 |
| Delaware | $131,330 |
| Louisiana | $131,180 |
| Washington | $130,830 |
| Maryland | $129,710 |
| North Dakota | $127,970 |
| Arizona | $125,050 |
| Illinois | $120,360 |
| Massachusetts | $119,260 |
| New Jersey | $118,340 |
| Oregon | $115,800 |
| Indiana | $115,570 |
| Ohio | $115,190 |
| Minnesota | $114,060 |
| Kentucky | $112,390 |
| Tennessee | $110,150 |
| North Carolina | $109,940 |
| Kansas | $107,200 |
| Pennsylvania | $107,040 |
| Idaho | $106,980 |
| Michigan | $106,690 |
| Alaska | $106,360 |
| Nebraska | $105,560 |
| South Carolina | $104,660 |
| Florida | $104,000 |
| Alabama | $103,620 |
| Mississippi | $102,470 |
| Georgia | $102,360 |
| Iowa | $101,080 |
| Missouri | $101,010 |
| Montana | $100,900 |
| Connecticut | $99,990 |
| Arkansas | $99,020 |
| Wisconsin | $92,530 |
| Rhode Island | $91,770 |
| Utah | $80,820 |
| Nevada | $78,220 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for chemical engineers differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest | $136,451 | 16.2% | 1.40 |
| Rocky Mountains | $126,072 | 5.4% | 2.04 |
| Middle Atlantic | $121,174 | 14.9% | 1.73 |
| Southeast | $117,211 | 24.2% | 1.60 |
| New England | $113,861 | 7.8% | 2.17 |
| Great Lakes | $112,190 | 14.6% | 1.16 |
| Plains States | $106,367 | 6.1% | 1.13 |
| Far Western US | $50,342 | 10.7% | 0.77 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Chemical Engineers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tulsa, OK | OK | $169,250 | 50 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | TX | $152,290 | 1,800 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | MD | $151,360 | 210 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | CO | $140,900 | 550 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | WA | $139,560 | 300 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | TX | $135,860 | 70 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $135,830 | 150 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | CA | $135,820 | 70 |
Which Industries Hire Chemical Engineers
The bulk of chemical engineers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 10,020 | $116,170 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5,360 | $122,800 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 1,300 | $138,480 |
| Wholesale Trade | 710 | $115,970 |
| Educational Services | 390 | $64,450 |
| Construction | 370 | $127,340 |
| Utilities | 180 | $117,310 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 110 | $130,840 |
Below are examples of industries where chemical engineers work:
Software Chemical Engineers Use
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Development environment software: C (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: C++ (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Process mapping and design software: Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
- Development environment software: Microsoft Visual Basic (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for chemical engineers reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Telephone Conversations
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How to Become Chemical Engineers
Entry-level chemical engineers positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers (Primary-Short)
- Industrial Engineers (Primary-Long)
- Manufacturing Engineers (Primary-Short)
- Materials Engineers (Primary-Short)
- Mechanical Engineers (Primary-Long)
- Fuel Cell Engineers (Supplemental)
- Nuclear Engineers (Primary-Long)
- Petroleum Engineers (Primary-Long)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring chemical engineers commonly pursue programs in:
Engineering
8 programs across 6 majors
- Chemical Engineering
- Polymer & Plastics Engineering
- Biochemical Engineering
- Ceramic Engineering
- Paper Science & Engineering
- Engineering Chemistry
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 17-2041.00 (Chemical Engineers).
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