Chemical Engineer

Explore This Path

Innovate in creating essential products like plastics and fuels.
Drive sustainable solutions with chemistry and engineering expertise.
Transform raw materials into valuable resources through unique processes.

💰 Earn $94K-$139K

📚 Bachelor Degree

⏱️ 24–48 MONTH TRAINING

📈 9.8% JOB GROWTH

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What You’ll 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.

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.

Scoop

Minimum Education

Bachelor Degree

Career Prospects

Excellent (Increasing by 5% or more)

Training Time

2 to 4 years

Job Openings

1,400 Annually

Median Earnings

$110,920 in California

$112,100 Nationally

$25K

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Real Talk Reel

Want to see what it's like to be a Chemical Engineer? We've curated a playlist for you to get a glimpse into a day in the life.

@chemengweekly

Best For You If...

YOU Like 💕

Thinking and problem solving
Working with my hands

You are skilled in 💫

Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Monitoring
Reading Comprehension
Speaking
Writing

You value 🙏

Accomplishing things
Having freedom
Receiving recognition

Deep Dive

Chemical Engineer

Explore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.

Pathways to this Career

Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.

Bachelor's Degree

A bachelor's degree typically results in increased knowledge about a variety of academic subjects, specialized knowledge in a focused field of study, and is considered the foundational qualification for many careers.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 4-5+ years