### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Chemical Engineers Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			chemical engineers imageChemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry, biology, physics, and math to solve problems involving the production of chemicals, fuel, drugs, food, and many other products.							
						Quick Facts:     Chemical Engineers2023     Median Pay
            						$112,100     per year
										$53.90     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Bachelor's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    20,800Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    8% (Faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    1,700What Chemical Engineers Do
                                                
                        
                        
Chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry, physics, and engineering to design equipment and processes for manufacturing products such as gasoline, detergents, and paper.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Chemical engineers typically work in an office setting or in laboratories. Most chemical engineers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.
            
                                                How to Become a Chemical Engineer
                                                
                        
To enter the occupation, chemical engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering or a related field. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have gained experience in an internship or a cooperative education program.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for chemical engineers was $112,100 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of chemical engineers is projected to grow							 8 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 1,300 openings for chemical engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for chemical engineers.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of chemical engineers with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about chemical engineers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Chemical Engineers Do 
            

			Chemical engineersChemical engineers develop and design chemical manufacturing processes.			
Chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry, physics, and engineering to design equipment and processes for manufacturing products such as gasoline, detergents, and paper.
Duties
Chemical engineers typically do the following:
Conduct research to develop new and improved manufacturing processes
Design and plan the layout of equipment
Establish safety procedures for working with dangerous chemicals
Conduct tests and monitor production processes
Troubleshoot problems in manufacturing processes
Evaluate equipment and processes to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations
Estimate production costs for managementChemical engineers work on producing a variety of chemicals and products, such as electronics, food, clothing, and paper. Along with designing and developing manufacturing processes, they ensure the safety of both work environments and consumers.
Chemical engineers commonly use computer-aided design (CAD) software in developing materials and products. Many engineers are generalists whose knowledge is transferable across industries.
Some chemical engineers specialize in a particular process, such as oxidation (a reaction of oxygen with chemicals to make other chemicals), or in developing specific products. Others specialize in a particular field, such as nanomaterials (extremely small substances).
Chemical engineers also may collaborate on research projects in a variety of other fields, including life sciences, biotechnology, and business services.
 Work Environment
			Chemical engineersChemical engineers generally work in offices or laboratory settings, although sometimes they must work in an industrial setting to oversee production.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Chemical engineers held about 20,800 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of chemical engineers were as follows:
        Chemical manufacturing
                35%Engineering services
                13Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences
                13Federal government, excluding postal service
                5Chemical engineers typically work in an office setting or in laboratories. They also may visit industrial plants, refineries, and other locations to monitor operations. Chemical engineers also may collaborate with those who design other systems, such as in biotechnology, or work with the technicians and mechanics who put designs into practice.
Injuries and Illnesses
Chemical engineers may be exposed to health or safety hazards when handling certain chemicals and plant equipment. Workers reduce their risk of injury or illness by following safety procedures and wearing protective equipment, such as gloves, goggles, and hard hats.
Work Schedules
Most chemical engineers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. They may have to work additional hours to meet production targets or to troubleshoot problems with manufacturing processes.
 How to Become a Chemical Engineer

			Chemical engineersBecoming a chemical engineer requires a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering or a related field.			
To enter the occupation, chemical engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering or a related field. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have gained practical experience in an internship or a cooperative education program.
Education
High school students interested in chemical engineering should take classes in sciences such as chemistry, physics, and biology. They also should take math courses, including algebra, calculus, and trigonometry.
Bachelor's degree programs in chemical engineering or a related field typically include classroom, laboratory, and field studies. These programs usually take 4 years, but some colleges and universities have 5-year engineering programs that lead to both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree.
Employers often prefer to hire graduates of ABET-accredited engineering programs. In chemical engineering, ABET-accredited programs include courses in chemistry, physics, and biology and the application of these sciences to process design and analysis.
Some colleges and universities offer internships or cooperative education programs. In these programs, students gain practical experience while completing their education.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Licensure is not required for entry-level chemical engineers.
Experienced engineers may obtain a Professional Engineer (PE) license, which allows them to oversee the work of other engineers, sign off on projects, and provide services directly to the public.
State licensure generally requires a bachelor’s or higher degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program, a passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, several years of relevant work experience, and a passing score on the PE exam.
Each state issues its own license. Most states recognize licensure from other states if the licensing state’s requirements meet or exceed their own licensure requirements. Some states require engineers to take continuing education to maintain licensure.
Advancement
Chemical engineers may advance to supervise a team of engineers and technicians or to become engineering managers. Advancing into supervisory or management positions usually requires several years of experience, often working under the guidance of a senior-level engineer.
Important Qualities
***Analytical skills.*** Chemical engineers must be able to evaluate designs and processes and to propose improvements, if necessary.
***Communication skills.*** Because chemical engineers frequently work on teams, they must be able to express themselves clearly in discussions and develop good relationships with colleagues.
***Creativity.*** Chemical engineers explore new ways of applying engineering to invent new materials and advance manufacturing techniques in chemical engineering.
***Math skills.*** Chemical engineers use calculus and other advanced math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work.
***Problem-solving skills.***Chemical engineers must be able to anticipate and identify problems, such as those related to manufacturing processes, and to devise solutions.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Chemical EngineersMedian annual wages, May 2023Chemical engineers$112,100  Engineers$102,660  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for chemical engineers was $112,100 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $75,650, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $176,420.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for chemical engineers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences
                $123,580Federal government, excluding postal service
                123,200Engineering services
                122,390Chemical manufacturing
                108,230Most chemical engineers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. They may have to work additional hours to meet production targets or to troubleshoot problems with manufacturing processes.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Chemical EngineersPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Chemical engineers8%  Engineers7%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of chemical engineers is projected to grow				 8 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 1,300 openings for chemical engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Demand for chemical engineers’ services depends largely on demand for the products that these workers help to develop. For example, environmental and sustainability concerns have led chemistry and manufacturing firms to research alternative fertilizers, resulting in a need for chemical engineers.
In addition, demand for these workers will continue with chemical engineering’s migration into nanotechnology, alternative energies, biotechnology, and other fields.
			

                        Employment projections data for     chemical engineers, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Chemical engineers**
			17-2041
			20,800
			22,500
			8
			1,700
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Chemical engineers **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of chemical engineers. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Agricultural Engineers**
            Agricultural engineers solve problems concerning power supplies, machine efficiency, the use of structures and facilities, pollution and environmental issues, and the storage and processing of agricultural products.
            Bachelor's degree
            $88,750**Architectural and Engineering Managers**
            Architectural and engineering managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities in the fields of architecture and engineering.
            Bachelor's degree
            $165,370**Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers**
            Bioengineers and biomedical engineers combine engineering principles with sciences to design and create equipment, devices, computer systems, and software.
            Bachelor's degree
            $100,730**Chemical Technicians**
            Chemical technicians conduct laboratory tests to help scientists analyze the properties of materials.
            Associate's degree
            $56,750**Chemists and Materials Scientists**
            Chemists and materials scientists research and analyze the chemical properties of substances to develop new materials, products, or knowledge.
            Bachelor's degree
            $87,180**Materials Engineers**
            Materials engineers develop, process, and test materials used to create a wide range of products.
            Bachelor's degree
            $104,100**Nuclear Engineers**
            Nuclear engineers research and develop projects or address problems concerning the release, control, and use of nuclear energy and nuclear waste disposal.
            Bachelor's degree
            $125,460**Occupational Health and Safety Specialists and Technicians**
            Occupational health and safety specialists and technicians collect data on, analyze, and design improvements to work environments and procedures.
            See How to Become One
            $77,580
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information on becoming a chemical engineer, visit
American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
For information about general engineering education and career resources, visit
American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)
Technology Student Association (TSA)
For information about accredited engineering programs, visit
ABET
For more information about licensure as a professional engineer, visit
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)
National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Chemical Engineers
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Chemical Engineers, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/chemical-engineers.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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