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Chemical Engineers

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeHigh pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $125,040 Median per year · $60.12/hr Most earn $79,420–$182,880

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Troubleshoot problems with chemical manufacturing processes.
  • Perform tests and monitor performance of processes throughout stages of production to determine degree of control over variables such as temperature, density, specific gravity, and pressure.
  • Determine most effective arrangement of operations such as mixing, crushing, heat transfer, distillation, and drying.
  • Direct activities of workers who operate or are engaged in constructing and improving absorption, evaporation, or electromagnetic equipment.
  • Perform laboratory studies of steps in manufacture of new products and test proposed processes in small-scale operation, such as a pilot plant.
  • Design and plan layout of equipment.

Job outlook

United States
5% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 1,100 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Chemical manufacturing22.5%
  • Engineering services10.5%
  • Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences9.1%
  • Management of companies and enterprises5.8%
  • Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing5.3%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 3 to 6 months

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 3 to 6 monthsEntry-level

Chemical engineering is an entry-level job for people with a bachelor's degree. Most people get in after about 4 years of college, often with a few months of internship or co-op experience, so you can start working soon after graduating.

  1. High school diploma with strong math and science

    4 years

    Taking advanced math, chemistry, physics, and English builds the foundation you need for an engineering degree.

  2. Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering

    4 years

    You learn chemistry, physics, thermodynamics, and process design, which are the core skills employers look for in this field.

  3. Internship or co-op at a plant, lab, or engineering firm

    3-6 months

    Hands-on work with real equipment and processes gives you the practical experience most employers expect before hiring you.

  4. Chemical Engineer

    Career start

    You design equipment and processes for making chemicals, fuels, plastics, and other products, using chemistry, physics, and engineering.

Where it can lead

  1. Senior Chemical Engineer

    3-5 years of experience first

    You take on bigger projects, lead design work, and mentor newer engineers, often after showing strong results and deeper technical knowledge.

  2. Process Engineering Manager

    5-8 years of experience first

    You oversee a team of engineers and are responsible for plant operations, budgets, and safety, which requires solid leadership and communication skills in addition to technical expertise.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take the highest-level math and science you canCalculus, chemistry, and physics are the classes that prepare you most directly for a chemical engineering degree.
  • Join a science or robotics clubWorking on team projects helps you practice experiments, problem-solving, and teamwork, all of which matter in engineering.
  • Enter a science fair or engineering competitionDesigning and testing a project shows you what engineering work is like and gives you something to talk about on college applications.
  • Get a starter job or volunteer at a lab or factory if possibleAny job where you follow safety rules and work with equipment builds good habits and shows employers you can handle responsibility.

In college

  • Major in chemical engineeringThis degree is the usual route into the career and covers the process design and chemistry knowledge you will use on the job.
  • Apply for a summer internship or co-opHands-on experience at a plant or lab is one of the most useful things you can add to your resume before graduating.
  • Join a student chapter of a professional engineering societyMost schools have engineering student groups where you can network, attend talks, and learn about job openings.
  • Work in a campus lab or research groupLab experience helps you practice running experiments, recording data, and following safety procedures, which are key skills for chemical engineers.
  • Take a course in programming or data analysisMany plants use software to monitor and control processes, so these skills can make you a stronger candidate.

Tips for getting started

  • Get an internship or co-op early, even one in a related field like food processing or materials, so you have real experience on your resume when you graduate.
  • Build strong skills in math, chemistry, and clear writing and speaking, since engineers present designs and explain problems to nonengineers all the time.
  • Look at the career page on your results to see typical pay near you and nationally. It can help you compare options as you plan.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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