Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Chemical Engineer is a professional role in the Architecture and Engineering job family, focused on Chemical Engineer work. Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Chemical Engineers do
Typical education: Bachelor's Degree
Develop safety procedures to be employed by workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions.
Troubleshoot problems with chemical manufacturing processes.
Monitor and analyze data from processes and experiments.
Evaluate chemical equipment and processes to identify ways to optimize performance or to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
Design and plan layout of equipment.
Top skills:ScienceCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionComplex Problem SolvingSystems EvaluationSystems Analysis
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Chemical Engineer salary by industry
Sectors 31, 32, and 33 – Manufacturing
10,860 workers
$130,500
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
5,280 workers
$143,500
Management of Companies and Enterprises
1,360 workers
$149,500
Federal, State, and Local Government, excl. State & Local Schools & Hospitals & USPS
1,020 workers
$142,000
Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation)
910 workers
$141,000
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
650 workers
$146,500
Educational Services
610 workers
$83,000
Wholesale Trade
570 workers
$123,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Chemical Engineer pays 27% above the average across 36 roles in the Architecture and Engineering job family (family average $105,500).
Similar-paying roles in Architecture and Engineering
The average base salary for a Chemical Engineer in the United States is $134,500 per year, or about $64.66 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $101,000 and $162,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Architecture and Engineering roles?
The Architecture and Engineering job family averages $105,500 across 36 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
