Chemical Engineers
Chemical Engineers (SOC 17-2041) earn a median $125,040 a year ($60.12 an hour) in the United States, with 21,070 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is New Mexico.
What chemical engineers do
Chemical engineers design equipment and processes that turn raw materials into finished products such as gasoline, plastics, synthetic rubber, detergents, cement, and paper. They draw on chemistry, physics, and engineering. A large part of the job is keeping a process running well: watching process and experiment data, troubleshooting problems in chemical manufacturing, and looking at equipment and operating conditions for ways to raise output or cut cost and waste. Safety is another core responsibility, and chemical engineers write procedures for workers who operate equipment or work in close proximity to it. They also design and plan the layout of equipment, prepare production cost estimates and progress reports for management, and conduct research on new and improved manufacturing processes. The role is distinct from chemists, who study substances and reactions in a laboratory rather than design production systems, and from materials engineers, who focus on the properties and performance of materials themselves.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported education level is a bachelor's degree.
Also called: Chemical Engineer, Chemical Process Engineer, Chemical Design Process Engineer, Blending Coordinator, Absorption and Adsorption Engineer.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $38.19 | $47.03 | $60.12 | $75.57 | $87.92 | $62.49 | 21,070 |
| Annual | $79,420 | $97,820 | $125,040 | $157,190 | $182,880 | $129,980 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where chemical engineers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New Mexico | Hourly | $36.80 | $53.09 | $76.05 | $90.99 | $98.73 | $70.88 | 160 | 0.18 | 1.33 |
| Annual | $76,540 | $110,420 | $158,190 | $189,260 | $205,360 | $147,420 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $44.49 | $48.40 | $65.57 | $75.04 | $85.07 | $64.11 | 790 | 0.19 | 1.42 |
| Annual | $92,540 | $100,680 | $136,380 | $156,080 | $176,950 | $133,340 | ||||
| Alabama | Hourly | $37.38 | $46.55 | $64.92 | $68.19 | $79.18 | $59.84 | 600 | 0.28 | 2.08 |
| Annual | $77,750 | $96,820 | $135,030 | $141,840 | $164,700 | $124,470 | ||||
| Louisiana | Hourly | $36.30 | $50.89 | $64.81 | $79.23 | $85.48 | $65.00 | 730 | 0.38 | 2.80 |
| Annual | $75,500 | $105,860 | $134,800 | $164,800 | $177,790 | $135,190 | ||||
| Delaware | Hourly | $41.74 | $50.96 | $64.27 | $76.29 | $84.93 | $63.17 | 370 | 0.76 | 5.59 |
| Annual | $86,810 | $106,000 | $133,670 | $158,670 | $176,650 | $131,390 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $41.79 | $51.40 | $63.82 | $80.65 | $101.18 | $69.40 | 2,610 | 0.19 | 1.37 |
| Annual | $86,920 | $106,910 | $132,750 | $167,750 | $210,460 | $144,350 | ||||
| California | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 2,190 | 0.12 | 0.89 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $32.60 | $40.95 | $56.73 | $63.96 | $82.77 | $56.81 | 1,460 | 0.40 | 2.96 |
| Annual | $67,810 | $85,170 | $118,000 | $133,050 | $172,170 | $118,170 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $36.99 | $46.24 | $53.46 | $65.24 | $81.54 | $57.07 | 1,030 | 0.19 | 1.37 |
| Annual | $76,940 | $96,170 | $111,200 | $135,700 | $169,600 | $118,710 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $38.43 | $44.00 | $56.23 | $80.80 | $85.34 | $61.31 | 810 | 0.13 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $79,940 | $91,520 | $116,970 | $168,060 | $177,510 | $127,520 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Albuquerque, NM | Hourly | $33.70 | $41.40 | $78.55 | $78.55 | $98.73 | $69.06 | 80 | 0.20 | 1.44 |
| Annual | $70,100 | $86,100 | $163,380 | $163,380 | $205,360 | $143,640 | ||||
| Pittsburgh, PA | Hourly | $43.24 | $46.50 | $73.22 | $84.11 | $84.11 | $66.85 | 110 | 0.10 | 0.71 |
| Annual | $89,940 | $96,720 | $152,290 | $174,940 | $174,940 | $139,050 | ||||
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | Hourly | $26.73 | $48.80 | $66.94 | $66.94 | $79.64 | $59.46 | 40 | 0.24 | 1.74 |
| Annual | $55,610 | $101,510 | $139,220 | $139,220 | $165,650 | $123,690 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $48.03 | $60.72 | $66.40 | $85.92 | $104.45 | $74.88 | 1,510 | 0.46 | 3.40 |
| Annual | $99,890 | $126,290 | $138,120 | $178,720 | $217,260 | $155,750 | ||||
| Mobile, AL | Hourly | $42.14 | $49.97 | $65.95 | $65.95 | $82.59 | $62.01 | 150 | 0.85 | 6.24 |
| Annual | $87,660 | $103,940 | $137,170 | $137,170 | $171,790 | $128,970 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $48.03 | $60.72 | $66.40 | $85.92 | $104.45 | $74.88 | 1,510 | 0.46 | 3.40 |
| Annual | $99,890 | $126,290 | $138,120 | $178,720 | $217,260 | $155,750 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $32.60 | $38.04 | $52.63 | $69.25 | $84.67 | $56.66 | 910 | 0.34 | 2.48 |
| Annual | $67,810 | $79,110 | $109,460 | $144,030 | $176,120 | $117,840 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $38.43 | $46.95 | $61.43 | $77.67 | $84.93 | $62.01 | 790 | 0.27 | 2.00 |
| Annual | $79,940 | $97,660 | $127,770 | $161,550 | $176,650 | $128,970 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 670 | 0.59 | 4.33 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $44.83 | $47.03 | $63.86 | $78.01 | $89.35 | $65.26 | 640 | 0.21 | 1.51 |
| Annual | $93,250 | $97,820 | $132,820 | $162,260 | $185,840 | $135,740 | ||||
Top industries employing chemical engineers
Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) employ 21.6% of chemical engineers nationally (4,550 jobs) at a median $115,520 a year ($55.54 an hour), followed by Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (11.9%) and Scientific Research and Development Services (9.5%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) NAICS 3250A1 | 4,550 | 21.6% | $115,520 | $55.54 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services NAICS 541300 | 2,510 | 11.9% | $125,200 | $60.19 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services NAICS 541700 | 2,010 | 9.5% | $124,540 | $59.88 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises NAICS 551100 | 1,360 | 6.5% | $135,720 | $65.25 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing NAICS 325400 | 1,150 | 5.5% | $106,140 | $51.03 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (21,070). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $105,550 for chemical engineers in May 2021 and $125,040 in May 2025, with employment of 24,180 and 21,070.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $105,550 | $50.75 | 24,180 |
| May 2022 | $106,260 | $51.09 | 20,380 |
| May 2023 | $112,100 | $53.90 | 21,140 |
| May 2024 | $121,860 | $58.59 | 20,330 |
| May 2025 | $125,040 | $60.12 | 21,070 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
45 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico profile | $76.05 | $158,190 | $76,540 | $205,360 | 160 | 0.18 | 1.33 |
| 2 | Virginia profile | $65.57 | $136,380 | $92,540 | $176,950 | 790 | 0.19 | 1.42 |
| 3 | Alabama profile | $64.92 | $135,030 | $77,750 | $164,700 | 600 | 0.28 | 2.08 |
| 4 | Louisiana profile | $64.81 | $134,800 | $75,500 | $177,790 | 730 | 0.38 | 2.80 |
| 5 | Delaware profile | $64.27 | $133,670 | $86,810 | $176,650 | 370 | 0.76 | 5.59 |
| 6 | Texas profile | $63.82 | $132,750 | $86,920 | $210,460 | 2,610 | 0.19 | 1.37 |
| 7 | West Virginia profile | $62.12 | $129,210 | $90,660 | $181,340 | 160 | 0.22 | 1.65 |
| 8 | New York profile | $62.05 | $129,060 | $81,520 | $146,180 | 540 | 0.06 | 0.41 |
| 9 | Washington profile | $61.68 | $128,290 | $94,160 | $185,360 | 650 | 0.18 | 1.36 |
| 10 | Oklahoma profile | $61.44 | $127,790 | $88,610 | $189,870 | 110 | 0.06 | 0.46 |
| 11 | Montana profile | $61.29 | $127,490 | $88,640 | $165,230 | 80 | 0.16 | 1.16 |
| 12 | Maryland profile | $61.15 | $127,190 | $68,670 | $185,220 | 500 | 0.18 | 1.35 |
| 13 | New Jersey profile | $60.94 | $126,760 | $81,040 | $185,190 | 440 | 0.10 | 0.75 |
| 14 | Colorado profile | $60.48 | $125,800 | $80,130 | $188,640 | 720 | 0.25 | 1.84 |
| 15 | Illinois profile | $58.44 | $121,560 | $79,120 | $176,110 | 520 | 0.09 | 0.63 |
| 16 | Massachusetts profile | $56.73 | $118,000 | $67,810 | $172,170 | 1,460 | 0.40 | 2.96 |
| 17 | Iowa profile | $56.54 | $117,590 | $78,610 | $134,030 | 40 | 0.03 | 0.20 |
| 18 | North Carolina profile | $56.45 | $117,410 | $81,020 | $168,610 | 380 | 0.08 | 0.56 |
| 19 | Kentucky profile | $56.33 | $117,170 | $89,040 | $161,500 | 190 | 0.10 | 0.70 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania profile | $56.23 | $116,970 | $79,940 | $177,510 | 810 | 0.13 | 0.98 |
| 21 | Oregon profile | $56.23 | $116,950 | $83,080 | $166,610 | 140 | 0.07 | 0.53 |
| 22 | North Dakota profile | $55.48 | $115,400 | $45,760 | $162,560 | 80 | 0.18 | 1.32 |
| 23 | Indiana profile | $54.41 | $113,160 | $89,990 | $135,940 | 720 | 0.23 | 1.66 |
| 24 | Rhode Island profile | $53.65 | $111,590 | $70,670 | $152,750 | 50 | 0.10 | 0.70 |
| 25 | Ohio profile | $53.46 | $111,200 | $76,940 | $169,600 | 1,030 | 0.19 | 1.37 |
| 26 | Florida profile | $52.41 | $109,000 | $73,180 | $160,340 | 230 | 0.02 | 0.17 |
| 27 | Minnesota profile | $51.77 | $107,670 | $60,320 | $269,800 | 210 | 0.07 | 0.54 |
| 28 | Idaho profile | $51.32 | $106,740 | $97,150 | $174,970 | 140 | 0.16 | 1.17 |
| 29 | Mississippi profile | $51.32 | $106,740 | $81,990 | $149,430 | 150 | 0.13 | 0.94 |
| 30 | Alaska profile | $51.00 | $106,080 | $106,080 | $142,350 | ** | ** | ** |
| 31 | Arkansas profile | $50.61 | $105,270 | $80,480 | $159,150 | 290 | 0.23 | 1.66 |
| 32 | Georgia profile | $49.94 | $103,880 | $66,030 | $164,590 | 330 | 0.07 | 0.49 |
| 33 | Michigan profile | $49.63 | $103,230 | $63,930 | $155,420 | 670 | 0.15 | 1.13 |
| 34 | Missouri profile | $49.19 | $102,320 | $84,300 | $166,270 | 320 | 0.11 | 0.80 |
| 35 | Connecticut profile | $49.17 | $102,270 | $86,190 | $165,210 | 410 | 0.24 | 1.80 |
| 36 | Kansas profile | $49.05 | $102,020 | $73,730 | $161,350 | 280 | 0.20 | 1.44 |
| 37 | South Carolina profile | $48.83 | $101,570 | $77,140 | $146,300 | 390 | 0.17 | 1.26 |
| 38 | Nebraska profile | $47.27 | $98,310 | $60,840 | $156,890 | 130 | 0.13 | 0.96 |
| 39 | Wisconsin profile | $46.95 | $97,660 | $60,740 | $131,410 | 110 | 0.04 | 0.28 |
| 40 | Utah profile | $41.11 | $85,520 | $66,620 | $152,760 | ** | ** | ** |
| 41 | New Hampshire profile | $35.22 | $73,250 | $53,930 | $146,170 | 40 | 0.06 | 0.45 |
| – | Arizona profile | * | * | * | * | 80 | 0.03 | 0.19 |
| – | California profile | * | * | * | * | 2,190 | 0.12 | 0.89 |
| – | Nevada profile | * | * | * | * | 110 | 0.07 | 0.54 |
| – | Tennessee profile | * | * | * | * | 480 | 0.15 | 1.09 |
Part of Architecture and Engineering Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 17-2041 Chemical Engineers.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 17-2041, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 17-2041.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.