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Chemical Engineering
8% job growth

Chemical Engineering

From pharmaceuticals to petrochemicals, chemical engineers drive some of the world's most critical industries.

Avg Salary
$92,000
Entry Level
$68,000
Senior Level
$168,000
Job Openings
185,000+

Salary Snapshot

Real-time salary data for Chemical Engineering based on thousands of verified data points. Experience and location remain the biggest drivers of compensation.

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Entry-Level
$68,000
Strong starting potential

0-2 years of experience

Mid-Career (Avg)
$92,000
National Average

5-8 years of experience

Senior/Principal
$168,000
High earning ceiling

10+ years of experience

Top Skills for Chemical Engineers

Process Simulation
Aspen Plus
Heat Transfer
Reaction Engineering
Safety Analysis
HAZOP
Six Sigma
Mass Balances

Chemical Engineering Career Path

Typical progression from entry-level to principal, with salary milestones

1
0–2 yrs
Junior Process Eng
$68–84K
Aspen Plus
PFDs/P&IDs
HAZOP
Mass/Energy Balance
2
2–5 yrs
Process Engineer II
$84–112K
Process Optimization
Scale-Up
Six Sigma
Regulatory Compliance
3
5–10 yrs
Senior Chemical Eng
$112–145K
Technology Transfer
Plant Leadership
Cost Engineering
Patents
4
10+ yrs
Principal / Plant Manager
$145–185K+
Operations Leadership
Capital Projects
HSE
P&L Ownership

Best Chemical Engineering Tools

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Process modeling for oil and gas upstream, gas processing, and refining.

Best for: Oil, gas, and refinery design

Simulation software that allows for the coupling of multiple physical phenomena.

Best for: Research and multi-physics problems
$4,000

Simulation tool for gas processing, sulfur recovery, and sour water stripping.

Best for: Gas treating and sulfur recovery plants
$3,500

Chemical process simulation software for design and day-to-day operation.

Best for: Mid-sized chemical firms

Top Employers for Chemical Engineers

Total compensation ranges for mid-level to senior engineers

ExxonMobil
Oil & Gas
$95–175K
BASF
Chemical
$90–165K
Dow Chemical
Materials
$88–160K
Pfizer
Pharma
$95–170K
Air Products
Industrial Gas
$90–162K
Chevron Phillips
Petrochemical
$92–168K

Best Cities for Chemical Engineers

Where the jobs and best salaries are concentrated

1
Houston
2
Midland TX
3
New Jersey
4
Lake Charles LA
5
Baton Rouge
6
Chicago

Open Chemical Engineering Jobs

The latest high-paying opportunities in your field

View All Chemical Jobs
Full-time
$130k - $180k

Senior Engineering Lead

Global SystemsRemote
View Details
On-site
$110k - $150k

Project Manager

BuildCorpChicago, IL
View Details
Full-time
$70k - $95k

Junior Engineer

NextGen TechRemote
View Details

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Get notified as soon as new Chemical roles matching your salary target are posted.

Top Rated Chemical Courses

Expert-led training to master Chemical engineering fundamentals

Browse All Courses
Udemy
$20
Intermediate · 14 hours
edX (MIT)
Free
Beginner · 12 weeks
Coursera

Food Process Engineering

4.5(10K students)
$39
Beginner · 3 months
Coursera
$49
Intermediate · 3 months

Professional Certifications

Boost your credibility and earning potential with Chemical-specific credentials

View All Certifications
+$9K Boost

Associate in Risk Management for Engineers

Medium
$450
Full guide
+$7K Boost

Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

Easy
$225
Full guide
+$5K Boost

Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)

Medium
$175
Full guide

Chemical Engineering Specializations

Petroleum Engineering
Pharmaceuticals
Polymer Engineering
Biochemical Engineering
Food Science
Environmental Compliance
Materials Science
Process Safety

A Day in the Life of a Chemical Engineer

Process engineers monitor plant performance dashboards, run Aspen simulations for process optimization, and participate in safety reviews (HAZOP). Plant-based roles include walking the unit, troubleshooting equipment, and coordinating with operations teams on shift.

Browse Chemical Jobs
2026 Industry Outlook

Traditional oil & gas roles are growing slowly, but battery materials, pharmaceuticals, and sustainable/green chemistry are creating new high-growth niches.

8%
Projected Job Growth
185,000+
Open Positions

Chemical Engineering Learning Roadmap

Step-by-step path from beginner to job-ready

Find Courses
1
Master process simulation
Year 1-2

Learn Aspen Plus or HYSYS through coursework and self-guided tutorials.

2
Understand safety & HAZOP
Year 2-3

Process safety is core to the field — study HAZOP methodology and process safety management.

3
Plant/industry internship
Year 3

Get exposure to a real plant environment — oil & gas, pharma, or specialty chemicals.

4
FE exam & specialization
Year 4+

Pass the FE exam and choose a specialization track (process, safety, or R&D).

Chemical Engineering — Frequently Asked Questions

What industries hire the most chemical engineers?

Oil & gas, pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals, and food processing are the top employers. Petroleum engineers in oil & gas often earn the highest salaries, while pharma offers excellent job stability.

Ready to Start Your Chemical Engineering Career?

Find the right courses, tools, and resources to get hired faster