Chemical Engineer Salary
Chemical Engineers earn a median $125,040 a year nationally. Architecture and Engineering Occupations
What chemical engineers 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.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.7% (about average)
- Openings per year
- 1,100
- Self-employed
- 2%
Employment of chemical engineers is projected to grow 4.7% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 1,100 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Chemical Engineer take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
- Federal income tax$18,744
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,752
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,813
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$96,731
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,420 | $38.18 | $64,702 |
| 25th percentile | $97,820 | $47.03 | $77,646 |
| Median (50th) | $125,040 | $60.12 | $96,731 |
| 75th percentile | $157,190 | $75.57 | $118,705 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $182,880 | $87.92 | $136,264 |
Chemical Engineer salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $158,190 | +7.4% | $112,968 | $76,540 – $205,360 | 160 |
| Virginia | $136,380 | +2.9% | $97,454 | $92,540 – $176,950 | 790 |
| Alabama | $135,030 | +30.3% | $97,073 | $77,750 – $164,700 | 600 |
| Louisiana | $134,800 | +2.8% | $99,744 | $75,500 – $177,790 | 730 |
| Delaware | $133,670 | +1.8% | $95,148 | $86,810 – $176,650 | 370 |
| Texas | $132,750 | −1.8% | $102,001 | $86,920 – $210,460 | 2,610 |
| West Virginia | $129,210 | −7.5% | $94,288 | $90,660 – $181,340 | 160 |
| New York | $129,060 | −2.6% | $92,904 | $81,520 – $146,180 | 540 |
| Washington | $128,290 | −1.9% | $98,952 | $94,160 – $185,360 | 650 |
| Oklahoma | $127,790 | −20.6% | $93,405 | $88,610 – $189,870 | 110 |
| Montana | $127,490 | +26.4% | $92,563 | $88,640 – $165,230 | 80 |
| Maryland | $127,190 | −1.9% | $92,471 | $68,670 – $185,220 | 500 |
| New Jersey | $126,760 | +7.1% | $92,022 | $81,040 – $185,190 | 440 |
| Colorado | $125,800 | −4.5% | $92,424 | $80,130 – $188,640 | 720 |
| Illinois | $121,560 | +1.0% | $88,475 | $79,120 – $176,110 | 520 |
| Massachusetts | $118,000 | −1.1% | $86,163 | $67,810 – $172,170 | 1,460 |
| Iowa | $117,590 | +16.3% | $87,738 | $78,610 – $134,030 | 40 |
| North Carolina | $117,410 | +6.8% | $87,252 | $81,020 – $168,610 | 380 |
| Kentucky | $117,170 | +4.3% | $87,276 | $89,040 – $161,500 | 190 |
| Pennsylvania | $116,970 | +9.3% | $87,527 | $79,940 – $177,510 | 810 |
| Oregon | $116,950 | +1.0% | $81,701 | $83,080 – $166,610 | 140 |
| North Dakota | $115,400 | −9.8% | $89,023 | $45,760 – $162,560 | 80 |
| Indiana | $113,160 | −2.1% | $85,129 | $89,990 – $135,940 | 720 |
| Rhode Island | $111,590 | +21.6% | $83,635 | $70,670 – $152,750 | 50 |
| Ohio | $111,200 | −3.5% | $84,784 | $76,940 – $169,600 | 1,030 |
| Florida | $109,000 | +4.8% | $85,512 | $73,180 – $160,340 | 230 |
| Minnesota | $107,670 | −5.6% | $78,778 | $60,320 – $239,200+ | 210 |
| Idaho | $106,740 | −0.2% | $79,373 | $97,150 – $174,970 | 140 |
| Mississippi | $106,740 | +4.2% | $80,384 | $81,990 – $149,430 | 150 |
| Alaska | $106,080 | −0.3% | $83,457 | $106,080 – $142,350 | — |
| Arkansas | $105,270 | +6.3% | $78,995 | $80,480 – $159,150 | 290 |
| Georgia | $103,880 | +1.5% | $77,141 | $66,030 – $164,590 | 330 |
| Michigan | $103,230 | −3.2% | $77,316 | $63,930 – $155,420 | 670 |
| Missouri | $102,320 | +1.3% | $76,940 | $84,300 – $166,270 | 320 |
| Connecticut | $102,270 | +2.3% | $76,727 | $86,190 – $165,210 | 410 |
| Kansas | $102,020 | −4.8% | $75,708 | $73,730 – $161,350 | 280 |
| South Carolina | $101,570 | −3.0% | $75,347 | $77,140 – $146,300 | 390 |
| Nebraska | $98,310 | −6.9% | $74,398 | $60,840 – $156,890 | 130 |
| Wisconsin | $97,660 | +5.5% | $73,738 | $60,740 – $131,410 | 110 |
| Utah | $85,520 | +5.8% | $66,111 | $66,620 – $152,760 | — |
| New Hampshire | $73,250 | — | $60,361 | $53,930 – $146,170 | 40 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineers, All Other | $122,930 | Bachelor's degree | +3.7% |
| Electrical Engineer | $120,630 | Bachelor's degree | +9.9% |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $130,220 | Bachelor's degree | +3.7% |
| Nuclear Engineer | $133,970 | Bachelor's degree | +0.4% |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $115,160 | Bachelor's degree | +5.4% |
| Aerospace Engineer | $134,960 | Bachelor's degree | +8.3% |
| Materials Engineer | $112,860 | Bachelor's degree | +7.5% |
| Marine Engineer and Naval Architect | $112,230 | Bachelor's degree | +6.7% |
| Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer | $109,370 | Bachelor's degree | +7.6% |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,110 | Bachelor's degree | +6.3% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemical engineer make?
The national median salary for chemical engineers is $125,040 a year ($60.12 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $79,420 and the top 10% earn over $182,880. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays chemical engineers the most?
New Mexico has the highest median pay at $158,190.
How many chemical engineers are there in the U.S.?
About 21,070 people work as chemical engineers nationwide.