Chemical engineering applies principles of chemistry, physics, and mathematics to design processes that convert raw materials into useful products. While less visible than other engineering fields, it is among the best-compensated disciplines at the bachelor’s degree level.
Pay at a Glance (BLS Data)
Bureau of Labor Statistics wage estimates for chemical engineers, across all industries:
| Percentile | Annual Wage | Hourly Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $79,420 | $38.18 |
| 25th | $97,820 | $47.03 |
| 50th (median) | $125,040 | $60.12 |
| 75th | $157,190 | $75.57 |
| 90th | $182,880 | $87.92 |
| Average (mean) | $129,980 | $62.49 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for Chemical Engineers (all industries). Hourly figures are annual wages divided by 2,080 hours. “Not published” means BLS withheld the estimate, usually because wages are above its top reporting limit.
Chemical Engineer Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Level | Salary Range |
|---|---|---|
| 0-3 years | Entry-level ChemE | $68,000-$88,000 |
| 3-7 years | Process / Project Engineer | $88,000-$118,000 |
| 7-12 years | Senior Engineer | $115,000-$148,000 |
| 12+ years | Principal / Lead Engineer | $145,000-$185,000 |
| Management | Engineering Manager / Director | $150,000-$210,000 |
Chemical Engineer Salary by Industry
| Industry | Notes |
|---|---|
| Oil and gas (upstream / refining) | Highest pay; location constraints (Gulf Coast, ND, TX) |
| Pharmaceuticals | Process engineering for drug manufacturing |
| Biotech / biomanufacturing | Strong growth; cell therapy, mRNA, fermentation |
| Semiconductor manufacturing | Etch, deposition, chemical processes |
| Specialty chemicals | Polymers, paints, adhesives, additives |
| Petrochemicals / plastics | Closely related to oil & gas |
| Food and beverage | Below median; very broad |
| Environmental / remediation | Government and consulting firms |
| Pulp and paper | Stable; declining sector |
Oil & Gas Premium — Breakdown
Oil and gas pays significantly above the ChemE median. Compensation drivers:
| Factor | Compensation Element |
|---|---|
| Location (Gulf Coast, Permian Basin, Alaska) | +$10,000-$30,000 over other regions |
| Rotational shift work (offshore, remote) | +$15,000-$40,000 shift differentials |
| HAZOP/process safety expertise | +$10,000-$20,000 vs. general process engineers |
| Project engineering (capital projects) | +$15,000-$30,000 vs. plant support |
| Years in oil & gas (vs. switching industries) | Seniority rewards more strongly than general industry |
Chemical Engineer Salary by State
| Rank | State | Avg Salary | Starting Salary | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | $147,420 | $76,540 | $158,190 |
| 2 | Texas | $144,350 | $86,920 | $132,750 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $135,190 | $75,500 | $134,800 |
| 4 | Oklahoma | $135,010 | $88,610 | $127,790 |
| 5 | Washington | $134,910 | $94,160 | $128,290 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $134,630 | $90,660 | $129,210 |
| 7 | Virginia | $133,340 | $92,540 | $136,380 |
| 8 | Delaware | $131,390 | $86,810 | $133,670 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $130,240 | $60,320 | $107,670 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $129,080 | $81,040 | $126,760 |
| 11 | Idaho | $128,840 | $97,150 | $106,740 |
| 12 | Maryland | $128,790 | $68,670 | $127,190 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $127,520 | $79,940 | $116,970 |
| 14 | Montana | $126,310 | $88,640 | $127,490 |
| 15 | Colorado | $126,060 | $80,130 | $125,800 |
| 16 | Alabama | $124,470 | $77,750 | $135,030 |
| 17 | Illinois | $123,570 | $79,120 | $121,560 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $123,550 | $81,020 | $117,410 |
| 19 | Kentucky | $122,160 | $89,040 | $117,170 |
| 20 | Alaska | $121,780 | $106,080 | $106,080 |
| 21 | Oregon | $121,660 | $83,080 | $116,950 |
| 22 | New York | $120,480 | $81,520 | $129,060 |
| 23 | Missouri | $119,110 | $84,300 | $102,320 |
| 24 | Ohio | $118,710 | $76,940 | $111,200 |
| 25 | Massachusetts | $118,170 | $67,810 | $118,000 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $117,040 | $45,760 | $115,400 |
| 27 | Kansas | $115,070 | $73,730 | $102,020 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $115,030 | $70,670 | $111,590 |
| 29 | Indiana | $114,590 | $89,990 | $113,160 |
| 30 | Connecticut | $114,410 | $86,190 | $102,270 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $114,140 | $80,480 | $105,270 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $113,460 | $81,990 | $106,740 |
| 33 | Florida | $113,080 | $73,180 | $109,000 |
| 34 | Georgia | $112,180 | $66,030 | $103,880 |
| 35 | Iowa | $112,070 | $78,610 | $117,590 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $107,760 | $60,840 | $98,310 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $106,920 | $77,140 | $101,570 |
| 38 | Michigan | $105,570 | $63,930 | $103,230 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $98,440 | $60,740 | $97,660 |
| 40 | Utah | $96,460 | $66,620 | $85,520 |
| 41 | New Hampshire | $90,810 | $53,930 | $73,250 |
| — | National | $129,980 | $79,420 | $125,040 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 estimates, fetched 2026-09-29. Figures cover Chemical Engineers (cross-industry). Some states are omitted where BLS did not publish a reliable estimate.
Specializations with Salary Premium
| Specialization | Salary Range | Industries |
|---|---|---|
| Process Safety (PSM, HAZOP) | $115,000-$160,000 | Oil & gas, chemical plants |
| Reaction engineering / scale-up | $105,000-$150,000 | Pharma, biotech |
| Cell/gene therapy manufacturing | $115,000-$165,000 | Fast-growing biotech niche |
| Upstream oil & gas (reservoir, drilling) | $120,000-$195,000 | Oil companies, oilfield services |
| Carbon capture / clean fuels | $100,000-$145,000 | Growing with policy investment |
| Semiconductor process (CVD, etch) | $110,000-$155,000 | Intel, TSMC, memory manufacturers |
Maximizing Chemical Engineer Income
| Strategy | Expected Outcome |
|---|---|
| Target oil & gas (Gulf Coast / Texas) | $120,000-$195,000+ for experienced engineers |
| Develop process safety expertise (PSM) | +$15,000-$25,000 vs. general process engineers |
| Move to biotech/biopharma scale-up | $110,000-$150,000; growing demand |
| Obtain PE license for consulting track | Required for independent consulting; opens that market |
| Transition to capital projects (PMC) | $125,000-$165,000; project mgt premium |
| Develop semiconductor process knowledge | Entry into high-paying fab operations |
Related Salary Guides
See every profession in our salary by profession guides.
Chemical engineering salaries are tracked in the profession salary guides hub. Compare earnings with a related engineering discipline in the civil engineer salary guide, and benchmark against national pay ranges at the good salary hub.
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