All careersEngineering & science

Chemical Engineer

$121,860
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Design and improve processes that turn raw materials into fuels, chemicals, food, and other products.

Where you work

Plants, labs, and offices.

The hours

Full-time, with some on-call at plants

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$121,860
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~1,100
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+3%
About average
Working in the U.S.
21,600
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Bachelor's degree

Training path: Bachelor's degree.

License or certification

A Professional Engineer license is optional for many jobs but expected for some senior roles.

What it takes

Process designChemistryMath skillsProblem solving

The honest take

One of the higher-paying engineering starts, with work tied to manufacturing and energy.

Standard Occupational Classification 17-2041. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.