Engineering

Chemical Engineer Salary

Chemical engineers solve problems involving production of chemicals, fuel, drugs, food, and other products.

Median Salary
$106,260
Mean Salary
$113,200
Total Employed
26,300
Job Growth
+8%

Chemical Engineer Salary by Experience Level

Entry-level chemical engineers earn around $70,000 per year, while mid-career professionals earn $108,000. Senior-level chemical engineers can earn $162,000 or more.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$70,000
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$108,000
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$162,000

Salary Percentile Breakdown

The salary range for chemical engineers varies significantly. The bottom 10% earn $68,000, while the top 10% earn $172,000.

Percentile Annual Salary
10th Percentile $68,000
25th Percentile $84,000
50th Percentile (Median) $106,260
75th Percentile $138,000
90th Percentile $172,000

Chemical Engineer Salary by State

Chemical Engineer salaries vary significantly by state due to cost of living, demand, and industry concentration. The highest paying state is Hawaii at $180,642, while Mississippi offers the lowest at $88,196.

State Median
#1 Hawaii $180,642 Details →
#2 California $146,639 Details →
#3 Massachusetts $143,451 Details →
#4 Alaska $131,762 Details →
#5 New York $129,637 Details →
#6 New Jersey $122,199 Details →
#7 Washington $122,199 Details →
#8 Connecticut $119,011 Details →
#9 Maryland $116,886 Details →
#10 Oregon $116,886 Details →
#11 Colorado $111,573 Details →
#12 New Hampshire $111,573 Details →
#13 Rhode Island $111,573 Details →
#14 Virginia $110,510 Details →
#15 Delaware $107,323 Details →
#16 Vermont $107,323 Details →
#17 Florida $104,135 Details →
#18 Maine $104,135 Details →
#19 Arizona $103,072 Details →
#20 Minnesota $103,072 Details →
#21 Nevada $103,072 Details →
#22 Utah $103,072 Details →
#23 Pennsylvania $102,010 Details →
#24 Illinois $100,947 Details →
#25 Michigan $100,947 Details →
#26 Montana $100,947 Details →
#27 Idaho $99,884 Details →
#28 Georgia $98,822 Details →
#29 New Mexico $98,822 Details →
#30 North Carolina $97,759 Details →
#31 Texas $97,759 Details →
#32 Wisconsin $97,759 Details →
#33 Wyoming $97,759 Details →
#34 Louisiana $96,697 Details →
#35 Indiana $95,634 Details →
#36 Nebraska $95,634 Details →
#37 North Dakota $95,634 Details →
#38 Ohio $95,634 Details →
#39 Iowa $94,571 Details →
#40 South Carolina $94,571 Details →
#41 Tennessee $94,571 Details →
#42 Missouri $93,509 Details →
#43 South Dakota $93,509 Details →
#44 Alabama $92,446 Details →
#45 Kansas $92,446 Details →
#46 Kentucky $92,446 Details →
#47 Oklahoma $91,384 Details →
#48 Arkansas $89,258 Details →
#49 West Virginia $89,258 Details →
#50 Mississippi $88,196 Details →

Key Responsibilities

  • Design chemical processes
  • Develop safety procedures
  • Troubleshoot production problems
  • Monitor quality control
  • Research new processes

Top Skills

Process Engineering Chemical Processes ASPEN Safety Engineering Quality Control Thermodynamics

Education Required

Bachelor's degree

Job Outlook

Faster than average — projected 8% growth over the next decade