Chemical Engineers
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.Salary by State
| State Name | Employment | Annual Salary | Hourly Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 490 | $99,450 | $47.81 | |
| Alaska | 50 | $160,120 | $76.98 | |
| Arizona | 80 | $132,450 | $63.68 | |
| Arkansas | 150 | $90,140 | $43.34 | |
| California | 1,540 | $96,920 | $46.60 | |
| Colorado | 660 | $107,660 | $51.76 | |
| Connecticut | 220 | $104,830 | $50.40 | |
| Delaware | 460 | $125,450 | $60.31 | |
| Florida | 290 | $98,350 | $47.29 | |
| Georgia | 350 | $106,040 | $50.98 | |
| Idaho | 150 | $132,850 | $63.87 | |
| Illinois | 300 | $101,420 | $48.76 | |
| Indiana | 280 | $96,880 | $46.58 | |
| Iowa | 140 | $109,770 | $52.78 | |
| Kansas | 170 | $95,710 | $46.02 | |
| Kentucky | 240 | $102,690 | $49.37 | |
| Louisiana | 990 | $130,140 | $62.57 | |
| Maine | 50 | $97,230 | $46.74 | |
| Maryland | 650 | $116,430 | $55.98 | |
| Massachusetts | 300 | $116,380 | $55.95 | |
| Michigan | 1,170 | $109,650 | $52.72 | |
| Minnesota | 120 | $111,760 | $53.73 | |
| Mississippi | 180 | $108,800 | $52.31 | |
| Missouri | 230 | $112,530 | $54.10 | |
| Montana | 70 | $115,090 | $55.33 | |
| Nebraska | 110 | $87,100 | $41.87 | |
| Nevada | 50 | $106,310 | $51.11 | |
| New Hampshire | 120 | $88,020 | $42.32 | |
| New Jersey | 1,040 | $123,300 | $59.28 | |
| New Mexico | 80 | $123,150 | $59.21 | |
| New York | 990 | $107,160 | $51.52 | |
| North Carolina | 560 | $102,240 | $49.15 | |
| North Dakota | 90 | $121,060 | $58.20 | |
| Ohio | 950 | $105,080 | $50.52 | |
| Oklahoma | 370 | $121,420 | $58.38 | |
| Oregon | 310 | $93,840 | $45.11 | |
| Pennsylvania | 1,650 | $102,450 | $49.26 | |
| Rhode Island | 30 | $93,020 | $44.72 | |
| South Carolina | 400 | $94,290 | $45.33 | |
| Tennessee | 540 | $114,290 | $54.95 | |
| Texas | 5,920 | $164,470 | $79.07 | |
| Utah | 150 | $80,190 | $38.56 | |
| Virginia | 380 | $97,790 | $47.02 | |
| Washington | 460 | $117,560 | $56.52 | |
| West Virginia | 60 | $91,710 | $44.09 | |
| Wisconsin | 380 | $93,330 | $44.87 | |
| Wyoming | 60 | $111,220 | $53.47 |
Education
The programs listed below are typically the education paths that can land you this kind of job.
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of inorganic non-metallic materials, such as porcelains, cements, industrial ceramics, ceramic superconductors, abrasive, and related materials and systems.
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems employing chemical processes, such as chemical reactors, kinetic systems, electrochemical systems, energy conservation processes, heat and mass transfer systems, and separation processes; and the applied analysis of chemical problems such as corrosion, particle abrasion, energy loss, pollution, and fluid mechanics.
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems at the interface of chemical engineering and biology, with an emphasis at the molecular level, such as biopharmaceutical processes, protein engineering, metabolic engineering, gene therapy, biomaterials, cell and tissue engineering, and drug delivery. Includes instruction in chemical engineering, thermodynamics, organic chemistry, biochemistry, momentum and heat transfer, cellular and molecular biotechnology, process design, and chemical reactor design.
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of synthesized macromolecular compounds and their application to specific engineering uses, including the development of industrial materials with tailored properties, the design of lightweight structural components, the use of liquid or solid polymers, and the analysis and control of polymerization processes.
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development, and manufacturing of pulp and paper products. Includes instruction in pulp and paper science, pulping and bleaching processes, paper structure and processes, pulp and paper manufacturing, coating technology, surface and colloid science, and fibers.
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the study of biochemical processes in living organisms, properties of biological materials, and processes using biochemical agents such as cells, enzymes, and antibodies. Includes instruction in biology, chemistry, physics, biochemistry, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, bioprocesses, and chemical engineering.
A program that focuses on the general application of chemical principles to the analysis and evaluation of engineering problems, such as development of electronic materials, solid-state science and technology, polymers, ceramics, and biomaterials. Includes instruction in physical chemistry, organic chemistry, materials science, chemical processes and systems, chemical reaction engineering, biochemical engineering, engineering mathematics, classical and modern physics, and computer science.
-
$121,840 per yearNational average salaryVery HighJob growth rate
-
Bachelor's degreeTypical education requirement
Educational Attainment
The following chart shows the highest education level completed by those working as chemical engineers.
- Less than high school 1%
- High school graduate 3%
- College dropout 5%
- Associate’s degree 4%
- Bachelor’s degree 58%
- Master’s degree 22%
- Doctorate degree 7%
Similar Careers
-
Materials Engineers$101,950 per year Average salaryModerateJob growth rate
-
Chemists$89,130 per year Average salaryModerateJob growth rate
-
Nuclear Engineers$121,760 per year Average salaryDecliningJob growth rate
-
Mechanical Engineers$97,000 per year Average salarySlowJob growth rate