Chemical Engineer Salary
Bureau of Labor Statistics title: Chemical Engineers
The median chemical engineer salary in the United States is $125,040 per year ($60.12/hour). Salaries range from $79,420 at the entry level to $182,880+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 21,070 chemical engineer jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 2.6% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Salary Distribution
Job Growth (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
Education Required
Chemical Engineer Career Guide
Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for chemical engineers.
Chemical Engineers design + operate processes for producing chemicals, fuels, pharmaceuticals, food, and materials. Career splits: petrochemicals + refining (ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell β highest historical pay), pharmaceutical + biotech (Pfizer, Merck, J&J, Genentech), consumer products (P&G, Unilever), specialty chemicals (Dow, DuPont, BASF), energy + renewables (Tesla, First Solar), consulting + engineering firms. Path: bachelor's in Chemical Engineering + FE + PE. Median compensation: entry $80-110k; mid $110-160k; senior $145-210k+; principal + specialty $190-290k+; management + executive $220-400k+.
Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For
How to Become a Chemical Engineer
- 1Bachelor's in Chemical Engineering (ABET-accredited)4-year program.
- 2FE exam during senior yearFirst step to PE.
- 3Entry engineer role at chemical companyStructured training programs + rotation.
- 4PE license after 4 yearsRequired for design certification + higher pay.
- 5Specialize (process, safety, environmental, R&D)Specialty commands premium.
- 6Advance to Sr / Principal + managementHigher pay + broader scope.
Career Progression
- β’Rotational training + support senior engineers
- β’Independent design + operations
- β’PE track
- β’Technical leadership
- β’Multiple projects
- β’Multi-project + team leadership
- β’Full engineering function + P&L
Interview Questions & Answers
5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 9 total plus resume bullets for every level.
Q1. Walk me through a process design project.case
Q2. How do you approach process safety?case
Q3. Tell me about a safety incident.behavioral
Q4. Why our company?culture
Q5. How do you optimize a process?situational
Resume Template β Chemical Engineer (3-6 yrs)
Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.
- βΈChemical Engineer, [Company], responsible for process design + operations for [product] production.
- βΈPE license + Process Safety Management certified.
- βΈLed $8M capital project on-schedule + under-budget.
- βΈContributed to 3 process improvements delivering $2.4M annual savings.
What Gets You Rejected
- βWeak fundamentals or simulation skills.
- βPoor safety awareness.
- βBad-mouthing prior team.
- βMissing regulatory knowledge.
Salary Negotiation Levers
- βBase + performance bonus + equity (major cos).
- βSign-on $10-40k common.
- βRelocation + housing.
- βPE + specialty certifications support.
- βPTO 3-5 weeks.
- βHazard pay (offshore, remote sites).
Chemical Engineer Resume Review β $29
Personalized resume review from someone who has hired chemical engineers. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.
- β Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
- β Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
- β Missing skills / keywords flagged
- β Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
- β 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it
Chemical Engineer Career Kit β $19
- β All 9 interview questions with expert answers
- β 10 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
- β Interview format intel for 7 top employers
- β 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
- β Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
- β 30β60β90 day plan for your first role
- β Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
- β Detailed salary negotiation script
- β Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
- β Downloadable PDF for offline access
- β Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
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Chemical Engineer Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) βSalary Map β Click a state for details
Top Paying States
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $158,190 | +26.5% |
| Virginia | $136,380 | +9.1% |
| Alabama | $135,030 | +8.0% |
| Louisiana | $134,800 | +7.8% |
| Delaware | $133,670 | +6.9% |
| Texas | $132,750 | +6.2% |
| West Virginia | $129,210 | +3.3% |
| New York | $129,060 | +3.2% |
| Washington | $128,290 | +2.6% |
| Oklahoma | $127,790 | +2.2% |
Chemical Engineer Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | $163,380 | +30.7% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $152,290 | +21.8% |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $139,220 | +11.3% |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $138,120 | +10.5% |
| Mobile, AL | $137,170 | +9.7% |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $136,870 | +9.5% |
| Lake Charles, LA | $136,810 | +9.4% |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $135,110 | +8.1% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $134,800 | +7.8% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $134,210 | +7.3% |