How Much Do Chemical Engineers Get Paid?

Consulting and service-related industries represent areas of employment growth for chemical engineers.

Chemical engineers design, plan, test and supervise the production of various chemicals and chemical products, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Chemical engineering is the second-highest-paying college major, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers' (NACE) winter 2010 salary survey.

Average

Average starting salary for a chemical engineer with a bachelor's degree is slightly more than $65,000 a year as of 2010, NACE says. This is a higher starting salary than all other college majors except petroleum engineering, according to NACE. All chemical engineers in the United States made an average of about $88,000 a year as of May 2009, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports.

Variations

Chemical engineers make higher salaries in some states, including Alaska, Delaware and Idaho, where annual salaries averaged more than $110,000 as of May 2009, the BLS says. Chemical engineers also enjoy higher salaries in certain industries, such as oil and gas extraction, and in management, scientific and consulting services.

Outlook

Employment for chemical engineers should decline slightly through at least 2018, as fewer jobs become available in chemical manufacturing, according to the BLS. Biotechnology, nanotechnology and energy research represent areas of potential growth for chemical engineers.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Chemical Engineers
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Engineers
• National Association of Colleges and Employers: Top-Paid Majors Among College Class of 2010

Resources

• American Chemical Society