Chemical Engineer Salary
Chemical Engineers earn a median $125,040 a year nationally. Architecture and Engineering Occupations
U.S. median
$125,040
$60.12 per hour
Range
$79,420 – $182,880
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
21,070
across the U.S.
Chemical Engineer take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$96,731
per year · effective tax rate 22.6%
$8,061Monthly
$4,030Twice a month
$3,720Every 2 weeks
$46.51Hourly
- 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 |
Best cities for chemical engineers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $138,120 | $105,671 | $107,140 | 1,510 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, PA | $127,770 | $94,674 | $92,316 | 790 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $132,820 | $93,727 | $86,080 | 640 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $126,830 | $91,512 | $81,298 | 510 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $109,460 | $80,582 | $74,430 | 910 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Houston, TX — $138,120
- Washington, DC — $132,820
- Philadelphia, PA — $127,770
- New York, NY — $126,830
- Boston, MA — $109,460
Chemical Engineer salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $158,190 | $112,968 | $76,540 – $205,360 | 160 |
| Virginia | $136,380 | $97,454 | $92,540 – $176,950 | 790 |
| Alabama | $135,030 | $97,073 | $77,750 – $164,700 | 600 |
| Louisiana | $134,800 | $99,744 | $75,500 – $177,790 | 730 |
| Delaware | $133,670 | $95,148 | $86,810 – $176,650 | 370 |
| Texas | $132,750 | $102,001 | $86,920 – $210,460 | 2,610 |
| West Virginia | $129,210 | $94,288 | $90,660 – $181,340 | 160 |
| New York | $129,060 | $92,904 | $81,520 – $146,180 | 540 |
| Washington | $128,290 | $98,952 | $94,160 – $185,360 | 650 |
| Oklahoma | $127,790 | $93,405 | $88,610 – $189,870 | 110 |
| Montana | $127,490 | $92,563 | $88,640 – $165,230 | 80 |
| Maryland | $127,190 | $92,471 | $68,670 – $185,220 | 500 |
| New Jersey | $126,760 | $92,022 | $81,040 – $185,190 | 440 |
| Colorado | $125,800 | $92,424 | $80,130 – $188,640 | 720 |
| Illinois | $121,560 | $88,475 | $79,120 – $176,110 | 520 |
| Massachusetts | $118,000 | $86,163 | $67,810 – $172,170 | 1,460 |
| Iowa | $117,590 | $87,738 | $78,610 – $134,030 | 40 |
| North Carolina | $117,410 | $87,252 | $81,020 – $168,610 | 380 |
| Kentucky | $117,170 | $87,276 | $89,040 – $161,500 | 190 |
| Pennsylvania | $116,970 | $87,527 | $79,940 – $177,510 | 810 |
| Oregon | $116,950 | $81,701 | $83,080 – $166,610 | 140 |
| North Dakota | $115,400 | $89,023 | $45,760 – $162,560 | 80 |
| Indiana | $113,160 | $85,129 | $89,990 – $135,940 | 720 |
| Rhode Island | $111,590 | $83,635 | $70,670 – $152,750 | 50 |
| Ohio | $111,200 | $84,784 | $76,940 – $169,600 | 1,030 |
| Florida | $109,000 | $85,512 | $73,180 – $160,340 | 230 |
| Minnesota | $107,670 | $78,778 | $60,320 – $239,200+ | 210 |
| Idaho | $106,740 | $79,373 | $97,150 – $174,970 | 140 |
| Mississippi | $106,740 | $80,384 | $81,990 – $149,430 | 150 |
| Alaska | $106,080 | $83,457 | $106,080 – $142,350 | — |
| Arkansas | $105,270 | $78,995 | $80,480 – $159,150 | 290 |
| Georgia | $103,880 | $77,141 | $66,030 – $164,590 | 330 |
| Michigan | $103,230 | $77,316 | $63,930 – $155,420 | 670 |
| Missouri | $102,320 | $76,940 | $84,300 – $166,270 | 320 |
| Connecticut | $102,270 | $76,727 | $86,190 – $165,210 | 410 |
| Kansas | $102,020 | $75,708 | $73,730 – $161,350 | 280 |
| South Carolina | $101,570 | $75,347 | $77,140 – $146,300 | 390 |
| Nebraska | $98,310 | $74,398 | $60,840 – $156,890 | 130 |
| Wisconsin | $97,660 | $73,738 | $60,740 – $131,410 | 110 |
| Utah | $85,520 | $66,111 | $66,620 – $152,760 | — |
| New Hampshire | $73,250 | $60,361 | $53,930 – $146,170 | 40 |
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. After taxes and local prices, Houston, TX offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many chemical engineers are there in the U.S.?
About 21,070 people work as chemical engineers nationwide.