Chemical Engineers
SOC code 17-2041 · O*NET-SOC 17-2041.00 · Considerable preparation needed · Science and engineering
Chemical Engineers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$125,040
a year
Hourly
$60.12
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$129,980
$62.49 per hour
Middle 50%
$97,820 – $157,190
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$79,420 – $182,880
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
21,070
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $79,420
- $38.19/hr
- 25th percentile
- $97,820
- $47.03/hr
- Median percentile
- $125,040
- $60.12/hr
- 75th percentile
- $157,190
- $75.57/hr
- 90th percentile
- $182,880
- $87.92/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+3%
Growing about as fast as average
21,600
jobs in 2024
22,100
projected for 2034
About 500 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What does a chemical engineer do?
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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
How to become a chemical engineer
Most people in this role hold bachelor's degree — 91% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 4 — Considerable preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Bachelor's Degree91%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate4%
- Post-Master's Certificate4%
Common questions
How much does a chemical engineer earn?
The national median is $125,040 a year. The full range runs from $79,420 at the 10th percentile to $182,880 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a chemical engineer without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 4, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Is chemical engineer in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 3% between 2024 and 2034 — growing about as fast as average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Science4.1/5
- Critical Thinking4.1/5
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Active Learning3.9/5
- Mathematics3.8/5
Knowledge areas
- Engineering and Technology4.8/5
- Chemistry4.7/5
- Mathematics4.3/5
- Design4.0/5
- Physics4.0/5
- Production and Processing4.0/5
- English Language3.7/5
- Computers and Electronics3.2/5
Transferable strengths: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Analysis, Systems Evaluation, Operations Analysis.