Career comparison
Chemical Engineer vs. Petroleum Engineer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Petroleum engineers earn more at the median ($144,910 vs. $125,040), 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. Petroleum engineers design ways to extract oil and gas safely and efficiently.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Chemical Engineer | Petroleum Engineer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $125,040 ($60.12/hr) | $144,910 ($69.67/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $79,420 – $182,880 | $81,440 – $253,200 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +4.7% (about as fast as average) | +2.0% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 1,100 | 1,000 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4-year engineering degree | 4-year engineering degree |
| Key credential | PE license | PE license |
| Work setting | Chemical engineers work in plants, labs and offices.. | Petroleum engineers work in offices and at rigs and field sites.. |
What each job does
Chemical Engineer
- Design processes
- Improve yields
- Troubleshoot equipment
- Run process safety reviews
- Model processes
Petroleum Engineer
- Plan wells
- Design drilling programs
- Design completions
- Model reservoirs
- Improve production
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, problem-solving, working with information, and high responsibility. They sit in different fields, science, engineering & lab and energy & utilities, but share transferable skills such as problem-solving and problem-solving.
Which should you choose?
Choose chemical engineer if…
- I like chemistry and math
- I like big processes
- I like plant work
Choose petroleum engineer if…
- I like math and geology
- I want very high pay
- I can handle cycles
Still torn? Take the Chemical Engineer fit quiz and the Petroleum Engineer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, chemical engineer or petroleum engineer?
Petroleum Engineers earn more at the median: $144,910 versus $125,040 for chemical engineers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Chemical Engineers typically train faster (4-year engineering degree) than petroleum engineers (4-year engineering degree).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects chemical engineers to grow +4.7% from 2025–35, compared with +2.0% for petroleum engineers.