SalaryCalculations

Chemical Engineers Salary

Architecture and Engineering Occupations · 21K employed in the U.S.

Median annual

$125,040

Median hourly

$60

Average annual

$129,980

Typical range

$79,420–$182,880

Pay distribution

10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.

10th$79,420
25th$97,820
Median$125,040
75th$157,190
90th$182,880

What this role pays

The median annual salary for Chemical Engineers is $125,040 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $60 an hour at a full-time schedule.

Design chemical plant equipment and devise processes for manufacturing chemicals and products, such as gasoline, synthetic rubber, plastics, detergents, cement, paper, and pulp, by applying principles and technology of chemistry, physics, and engineering..

Most earn between $79,420 and $182,880 a year. There are roughly 21K people employed as chemical engineers in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.

Salary calculator

Convert your pay and see where it lands for Chemical Engineers.

Hourly
$60.12
Daily
$481
Weekly
$2,405
Bi-weekly
$4,809
Monthly
$10,420
Annual
$125,040

$125,040 a year is around the 50th percentile for Chemical Engineerss. The median is $125,040.

Highest-paying states

Median annual wage by state.

Top-paying metro areas

Median annual wage by metro area.

  • 1Albuquerque, NM$163,380
  • 2Pittsburgh, PA$152,290
  • 3Fort Collins-Loveland, CO$139,220
  • 4Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$138,120
  • 5Mobile, AL$137,170
  • 6New Orleans-Metairie, LA$136,870
  • 7Lake Charles, LA$136,810
  • 8Trenton-Princeton, NJ$135,110
  • 9Baton Rouge, LA$134,800
  • 10Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$134,210
  • 11Rochester, NY$133,740
  • 12St. Louis, MO-IL$133,450

Related job titles

Employers advertise Chemical Engineers roles under these titles.

Related occupations

What a Chemical Engineers does

  • Monitor and analyze data from processes and experiments.
  • Develop safety procedures to be employed by workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions.
  • Develop processes to separate components of liquids or gases or generate electrical currents, using controlled chemical processes.
  • Troubleshoot problems with chemical manufacturing processes.
  • Evaluate chemical equipment and processes to identify ways to optimize performance or to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
  • Conduct research to develop new and improved chemical manufacturing processes.
  • Perform laboratory studies of steps in manufacture of new products and test proposed processes in small-scale operation, such as a pilot plant.
  • Prepare estimate of production costs and production progress reports for management.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Chemical Engineers make?
The median annual wage for Chemical Engineers is $125,040 ($60 per hour). Pay ranges from about $79,420 at the 10th percentile to $182,880 at the 90th percentile.
What is the average salary for a Chemical Engineers?
The average (mean) annual salary is $129,980, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Which state pays Chemical Engineerss the most?
New Mexico has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $158,190.
Is Chemical Engineers a growing occupation?
BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 21K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
What does a Chemical Engineers do?
Monitor and analyze data from processes and experiments.; Develop safety procedures to be employed by workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions.; Develop processes to separate components of liquids or gases or generate electrical currents, using controlled chemical processes..