Career comparison
Chemical Engineer vs. Chemist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Chemical engineers earn more at the median ($125,040 vs. $91,240), while chemical engineers usually get to work faster (4-year engineering degree of training). Chemical engineers design processes that turn raw materials into fuels, medicines, food and chemicals. Chemists study substances and create new materials, medicines and products.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Chemical Engineer | Chemist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $125,040 ($60.12/hr) | $91,240 ($43.87/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $79,420 – $182,880 | $58,460 – $160,830 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +4.7% (about as fast as average) | +6.4% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 1,100 | 5,900 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4-year engineering degree | 4+ years |
| Key credential | PE license | ACS-certified degree |
| Work setting | Chemical engineers work in plants, labs and offices.. | Chemists work in labs and offices in industry, government and universities.. |
What each job does
Chemical Engineer
- Design processes
- Improve yields
- Troubleshoot equipment
- Run process safety reviews
- Model processes
Chemist
- Design and run experiments
- Analyze substances with instruments
- Develop new products and processes
- Interpret data
- Write reports and procedures
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, problem-solving, and working with information. Both are part of the science, engineering & lab field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose chemical engineer if…
- I like chemistry and math
- I like big processes
- I like plant work
Choose chemist if…
- I love chemistry
- I enjoy experiments
- I like solving puzzles
Still torn? Take the Chemical Engineer fit quiz and the Chemist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, chemical engineer or chemist?
Chemical Engineers earn more at the median: $125,040 versus $91,240 for chemists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Chemical Engineers typically train faster (4-year engineering degree) than chemists (4+ years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects chemists to grow +6.4% from 2025–35, compared with +4.7% for chemical engineers.