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.
What it pays
Chemical Engineers earn a median of $60.12/hr — about $125,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $38.19/hr; the top 10% earn $87.92/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
Chemical Engineers earn a median of $60.12/hr — about $125,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $38.19/hr; the top 10% earn $87.92/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
What you'd actually do
- Monitor and analyze data from processes and experiments.
- Develop safety procedures to be employed by workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions.
- Develop processes to separate components of liquids or gases or generate electrical currents, using controlled chemical processes.
- Troubleshoot problems with chemical manufacturing processes.
- Evaluate chemical equipment and processes to identify ways to optimize performance or to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
- Conduct research to develop new and improved chemical manufacturing processes.
How you get there
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation: considerable preparation (Job Zone 4 of 5).
The feel of the work
Much of the work happens outdoors; much of the day is spent working solo. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)
Working for yourself
About 5.1% of chemical engineers are self-employed.
Who it tends to fit
This work tends to fit people who are hands-on, analytical and organized and detail-focused.
Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.Related careers
- Engineers, All Other
- Electrical Engineers
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
- Aerospace Engineers
- Environmental Engineers
- Mechanical Engineers
Quick questions
- How much does a chemical engineer make?
- The median pay is $60.12 per hour — roughly $125,000 a year, with the real range running from about $38.19/hr (10th percentile) to $87.92/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Do you need a degree to be a chemical engineer?
- The typical entry-level education is: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation level: considerable preparation (Job Zone 4 of 5).
- What does a chemical engineer actually do all day?
- Monitor and analyze data from processes and experiments. Develop safety procedures to be employed by workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions. Develop processes to separate components of liquids or gases or generate electrical currents, using controlled chemical processes.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.