What Does a Chemical Engineer Do? Duties, Pay & Outlook

What does a chemical engineer do?

Chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry, biology, physics and math to solve problems that involve the production or use of chemicals, fuel, drugs, food and other products. The median pay is $125,040 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 4-year engineering degree, and employment is projected to grow +4.7% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

Median pay
$125,040
$60.12/hour · May 2025
Job growth
+4.7%
2025–35, about as fast as average
Openings per year
1,100
Average, 2025–35
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
BLS classification
Time to train
4-year engineering degree
Typical program length
U.S. jobs
21,900
Employment, 2025

What chemical engineers do

Chemical engineers scale up chemistry. They design and run processes in refineries, chemical plants, pharma and food factories, improve yields and safety, troubleshoot equipment and lower costs and emissions.

Chemical engineers need a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. Pay is high, and BLS projects about average growth.

Typical duties

Design processes
Improve yields
Troubleshoot equipment
Run process safety reviews
Model processes
Support operations
Reduce emissions

Work environment and schedule

Chemical engineers work in plants, labs and offices.

Schedule: Full time, sometimes on call for plant issues.

A day in the life

7:30 AMReview overnight plant data.
8:30 AMWalk the unit with operators.
10:00 AMRun a process simulation.
12:00 PMLead a HAZOP session.

See a full day in the life of a chemical engineer →

Chemical Engineer salary

Half of chemical engineers earned more than $125,040 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $79,420 for the lowest 10% to $182,880 for the top 10%.

$79,42010th$125,040Median$182,88090th

Full chemical engineer pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a chemical engineer

Earn a chemical engineering degree
Do co-ops
Join as a process engineer
Pass the FE and PE
Advance

A bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering is required.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a chemical engineer →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

Thermodynamics
Fluid mechanics
Heat transfer
Reaction engineering
Process simulation

People skills

Problem-solving
Communication
Teamwork
Attention to detail

All chemical engineer skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

High pay
Many industries
Problem-solving
Plant and office mix

Cons

Plant hazards
On-call duty
Remote plant locations
Industry cycles

Certifications and licenses

PE license: Optional.
CCPSC: Process safety certification.
Six Sigma: Helpful.
Master’s: For advanced roles.

Career path

Process Engineer: Entry.
Senior Process Engineer: Lead.
Engineering Manager: Lead teams.
Plant Manager: Run plants.

Learn the job before day one

Our Chemical Engineer training (12 hours, $109.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as do a process mass balance and run a HAZOP on a chemical process node, safety and how to land your first job.

View Chemical Engineer training Is this career right for me?

Chemist

Study substances and create new materials, medicines and products.

$91,240
4+ years

Chemical Plant Operator

Control the reactors and systems that produce chemicals and materials.

$78,120
6–18 months on the job

Chemical Technician

Run chemical tests and experiments that support research and production.

$60,390
2 years

Petroleum Engineer

Design ways to extract oil and gas safely and efficiently.

$144,910
4-year engineering degree

Compare: Chemical Engineer vs. Chemist · Chemical Engineer vs. Chemical Plant Operator · Chemical Engineer vs. Chemical Technician · Chemical Engineer vs. Petroleum Engineer

Chemical Engineer FAQ

Where do chemical engineers work?

Refineries, chemical, pharma, food, energy and more.

Is pay high?

Yes, BLS reports high median pay.

Do I need a PE?

Not usually, but it helps.

How much does a chemical engineer make?

The median annual wage for chemical engineers was $125,040 ($60.12 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $79,420 and the highest 10% earned more than $182,880.

How long does it take to become a chemical engineer?

Most people need about 4-year engineering degree of training. A bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering is required.

Do you need a degree to be a chemical engineer?

Usually, yes. BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education, although skills, certifications and experience can sometimes substitute.

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 17-2041 (Chemical engineers).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
O*NET OnLine summary for Chemical engineers (U.S. Department of Labor).
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

Chemical Engineer