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Chemical Engineer

Overview and Key Facts

female chemical engineer in hard hat
Education
Education
Bachelor's degree
Median Pay
Median Pay
$121,860
Job Growth
Job Growth
2.60%
(Below US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
22,100

What Do They Do?

A chemical engineer could...

 
clothing rack
Find a way to turn recycled plastic bottles into high-end fabrics.
crude oil through distillation process
Work to optimize the flow rate of crude through heat exchangers and the distillation process.
spacecraft
Develop new fuels to propel the next generation of spacecraft farther and faster.
girl blowing bubble
Invent a bubble gum formula that makes it easy to blow big bubbles.
 
clothing rack crude oil through distillation process spacecraft girl blowing bubble

Overview Listen to this section

Chemical engineers solve the problems that affect our everyday lives by applying the principles of chemistry. If you enjoy working in a chemistry laboratory and are interested in developing useful products for people, then a career as a chemical engineer might be in your future.
Watch this video to see how Kimberly Ozkan-Bal's work as a Unilever chemical engineer helps keep thousands of people clean.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iud7js7J36k

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Chemical Engineer?


  1. Science: ?
  2. Complex Problem Solving: ?
  3. Critical Thinking: ?
  4. Judgment and Decision Making: ?
  5. Systems Analysis: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Chemical Engineer might 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.
  • Perform laboratory studies of steps in manufacture of new products and test proposed processes in small-scale operation, such as a pilot plant.
  • Design measurement and control systems for chemical plants based on data collected in laboratory experiments and in pilot plant operations.
  • Prepare estimate of production costs and production progress reports for management.
  • Determine most effective arrangement of operations such as mixing, crushing, heat transfer, distillation, and drying.
  • Direct activities of workers who operate or are engaged in constructing and improving absorption, evaporation, or electromagnetic equipment.
  • Perform tests and monitor performance of processes throughout stages of production to determine degree of control over variables such as temperature, density, specific gravity, and pressure.
  • Design and plan layout of equipment.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

Tap or scroll over map to see median salaries for each state
No data available for some states (white on the map)

Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Chemical Engineer Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Chemical Engineer jobs (2.60%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming a Chemical Engineer

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Career Pathway Listen to this section

A bachelor's degree in chemical engineering is required for almost all entry-level chemical engineering jobs, but some basic research positions may require a graduate degree. Faculty positions require graduate degrees. Engineers offering their services directly to the public must be licensed. Continuing education to keep current with rapidly changing technology is important for engineers.

Beginning chemical engineering graduates usually work under the supervision of experienced chemical engineers and, in large companies, also may receive formal classroom or seminar-type training. As new engineers gain knowledge and experience, they are assigned more difficult projects with greater independence to develop designs, solve problems, and make decisions. Engineers may advance to become technical specialists or to supervise a staff or team of engineers and technicians.

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: Bachelor's degree ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

A bachelor's degree in chemical engineering is required for all entry-level positions. Graduate training is essential for chemical engineering faculty positions and many research and development programs, but is not required for the majority of entry-level chemical engineering jobs. Many experienced engineers obtain graduate degrees in engineering or business administration to learn new technology and to broaden their education.

Admissions requirements for undergraduate engineering schools include a solid background in mathematics (algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus) and science (biology, chemistry, and physics), with courses in English, social studies, and humanities. Bachelor's degree programs in engineering typically are designed to last 4 years, but many students find that it takes between 4 and 5 years to complete their studies.

Companies That Hire Chemical Engineers

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Role Models

Tom Wooley works on designing a process that converts charcoal, which has little value, into methanol, which can be made into many products.
I perform many different calculations that help define the overall equipment required for the plants that we will build. I then work with engineers... to complete the design of chemical plants, refineries, and power plants all over the world. 
Tom Wooley, Process Department Director
As a process engineer, which is like the architect of a plant, Linh Nguyen enjoys seeing the results of her work in real life.
With the guidance of my lead engineer, I calculated the size of the vessel and pump to meet the required design specifications [for a power plant]. The vessel and pump got purchased and installed, and we were invited to visit the site. 
Linh Nguyen, Process Engineer
Temitope Jabaru loved math in high school and still enjoys doing calculations as part of her career.
I work with other engineers to design and size equipment and instruments that are put together in a certain order (a process) to manufacture new products from raw materials like crude oil or by-products of crude oil. 
Temitope Jabaru, Process Engineer

Nature of the Work

Chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry to solve problems involving the production or use of chemicals and biochemicals. They design equipment and processes for large-scale chemical manufacturing, as well as plan and test methods of manufacturing products and treating byproducts, and supervise production. Chemical engineers also work in a variety of manufacturing industries other than chemical manufacturing, such as those producing energy, electronics, food, clothing, and paper. They also work in health care, biotechnology, and business services. Chemical engineers apply principles of physics, mathematics, and mechanical and electrical engineering, as well as chemistry. Some may specialize in a particular chemical process, such as oxidation or polymerization. Others specialize in a particular field, such as nanomaterials, or in the development of specific products. They must be aware of all aspects of chemicals manufacturing and how the manufacturing process affects the environment and the safety of workers and consumers.

When designing new products, chemical engineers go through a process of several steps. The first step is to clearly specify the functional requirements of the product. Second, the chemical engineer must design and test the product. Finally, the engineer must evaluate the product's cost, reliability, and safety. This process has created many useful and novel products.

Work Environment

Most chemical engineers work in office buildings, laboratories, or industrial plants. Others might spend time outdoors at construction sites and at oil and gas exploration and production sites where they monitor or direct operations or solve onsite problems. Some chemical engineers travel extensively to plants or worksites both in the United States and abroad.

Many chemical engineers work a standard 40-hour week. At times, deadlines or design standards may bring extra pressure to a job, requiring engineers to work longer hours.

More Information

Ask Questions

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