Chemical Engineers: salary, outlook & degrees
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.
Middle half $97,820–$157,190. 21,070 jobs.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
96% hold a bachelor's or higher. Those with one: $103,871.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers with at least a high school diploma; EducationGuide calculation
About 1,100 openings a year, including replacements.
BLS Employment Projections 2025-35
Considerable preparation (usually a bachelor's).
BLS; O*NET 31.0 job zone
Degrees that lead to this career
What workers ages 25-34 in this job studied, among those with a bachelor's or higher. This is what people actually did, not a requirement.
| Field of bachelor's degree | Share | Degree pages |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical Engineering | 45% | Chemical Engineering |
| Mechanical Engineering | 12% | Mechanical Engineering |
| General Engineering | 4% | Engineering |
| Biomedical Engineering | 4% | Biomedical Engineering |
| Electrical Engineering | 3% | Electrical Engineering |
| Civil Engineering | 2% | Civil Engineering |
| Biology | 2% | Biology |
| Business Management And Administration | 1% | Business Administration |
| Chemistry | 1% | Chemistry |
| Miscellaneous Engineering | 1% | — |
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata (ages 25-34, employed, bachelor's or higher; top 10 fields); EducationGuide calculation.
Education workers say the job requires
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers (“required level of education”); small samples, so treat shares as approximate.
Pay by state and metro
| State | Median wage |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $158,190 |
| Virginia | $136,380 |
| Alabama | $135,030 |
| Louisiana | $134,800 |
| Delaware | $133,670 |
| Texas | $132,750 |
| West Virginia | $129,210 |
| New York | $129,060 |
| Washington | $128,290 |
| Oklahoma | $127,790 |
| Montana | $127,490 |
| Maryland | $127,190 |
| New Jersey | $126,760 |
| Colorado | $125,800 |
| Illinois | $121,560 |
| Massachusetts | $118,000 |
| Iowa | $117,590 |
| North Carolina | $117,410 |
| Kentucky | $117,170 |
| Pennsylvania | $116,970 |
| Oregon | $116,950 |
| North Dakota | $115,400 |
| Indiana | $113,160 |
| Rhode Island | $111,590 |
| Ohio | $111,200 |
| Florida | $109,000 |
| Minnesota | $107,670 |
| Idaho | $106,740 |
| Mississippi | $106,740 |
| Alaska | $106,080 |
| Arkansas | $105,270 |
| Georgia | $103,880 |
| Michigan | $103,230 |
| Missouri | $102,320 |
| Connecticut | $102,270 |
| Kansas | $102,020 |
| South Carolina | $101,570 |
| Nebraska | $98,310 |
| Wisconsin | $97,660 |
| Utah | $85,520 |
| New Hampshire | $73,250 |
Florida metro areas
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach$111,980
- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater$110,000
Virginia metro areas
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$132,820
- Richmond$117,150
California metro areas
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim$134,210
- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario$106,200
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: median annual wage, all workers in the job. Metro areas: the largest by employment.
What the work takes
Top skills
- Science
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Mathematics
Knowledge used
- Engineering and Technology
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Design
- Physics
Work styles
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
- Dependability
- Innovation
- Intellectual Curiosity
People in this job tend to have Realistic (hands-on), Investigative (analytical), Conventional (organizing) interests.
O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0): skills and knowledge by importance; work styles; interest high points.
Chemical Engineers: questions
How much do chemical Engineers make?
Chemical Engineers earn a U.S. median $125,040 a year; the middle half earn $97,820 to $157,190 (BLS, May 2025). Workers ages 25-34 in this job earn a median $102,649 (Census ACS 2020-2024).
Is chemical Engineers a growing field?
BLS projects growth of 4.7% from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,100 openings a year, including replacements.
What degree do you need to be a chemical Engineer?
BLS lists the typical entry education as bachelor's degree. In O*NET's survey, 100% of workers say a bachelor's or higher is required. Among workers ages 25-34 with a bachelor's, the most common field of degree is chemical Engineering (45%).
How much do chemical Engineers make in Florida?
The median in Florida is $109,000 a year (BLS, May 2025), compared with $125,040 nationally.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35); O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); U.S. Census Bureau ACS microdata. SOC 17-2041. Method
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Cite this: “Chemical Engineers: salary, outlook and degrees,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/careers/chemical-engineers.