Chemical Engineering Careers

Chemical engineering professionals apply engineering, chemistry, and biology principles for effective production and manufacturing. Chemical engineers apply their knowledge in academia and government, where they conduct research in fuel, drugs, food, and other products.

Why Choose Chemical Engineering?

Some reasons to choose a career in chemical engineering include the following:

• A 2021 BLS report showed that chemical engineers earn a mean annual wage of $121,840, far exceeding the national mean of $58,260.
• Chemical engineering graduates can choose from several exciting career paths.
• Chemical engineers work on products that improve humanity.
• Chemical engineers learn modern scientific skills like nanotechnology and bioengineering.

How to Start your Chemical Engineering Journey

You can start your chemical engineering journey with an associate degree. However, opportunities are few for associate degree-holders; employers prefer chemical engineering graduates with a BSc.

Chemical engineers typically do their Master’s degree to advance in a particular area of specialization. A doctorate is necessary if you want to focus on research and academics.

Education Requirements

Associate Degree

An associate degree in chemical engineering usually takes two years to complete. The purpose of the degree is to strengthen your knowledge of core science subjects, preparing you for life as an undergraduate.

Note that the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) has not accredited any institutions to run associate degree programs in the United States.

Bachelor’s Degree

A bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for chemical engineers in many places. A BSc. program in chemical engineering usually takes four years to complete.

Some courses that chemical engineering graduates would have learned include the following:

• Thermodynamics
• Plant design
• Separating components
• Fluid mechanics
• Process economics
• Process operations, and
• Mass and heat transfer

Master’s Degree

A master’s degree in chemical engineering allows you to upgrade your knowledge of specific chemical engineering fields. You can earn an MSc. in chemical engineering with two years of full-time study or 36 to 54 credits.

Chemical engineers with an MSc. usually better understand materials sciences and process engineering.

Doctorate in Chemical Engineering

A doctorate in chemical engineering teaches students to conduct original research. Graduates would have learned the practical application of chemical engineering principles, experimental, and analytic techniques.

A PhD. gives an edge to chemical engineers who want to pursue a career in academics and research.

Employment Prospects

The BLS report cited above predicts a 14% growth in the job outlook for chemical engineers. The chemical engineering sector’s growth is far above the national average.

Around 3,700 new jobs will be available for chemical engineers in the next decade. Their skills would be helpful in energy, health, manufacturing, medicine, production, and environmental safety.

Chemical Engineering Career Forecast

The career path of chemical engineers can take many alternate routes. New chemical engineering graduates can usually get entry-level roles in various sectors.

Chemical engineers can accelerate their careers by pursuing higher education in an area of specialization. More years of practice can also open chemical engineers to more opportunities and greater job security.

Lucrative Chemical Engineering Career Paths

Biomedical Engineer

Biomedical engineers develop, manufacture, and maintain biomedical equipment.

Average Salary

In 2021, biomedical engineers earned a median annual wage of $97,410. The top 10% earned above $154,750, while the bottom 10% made below $60,680.

Roles and Responsibilities

A biomedical engineer’s duties include the following:

• Inspect the entire manufacturing process of biomedical equipment.
• Train clinicians to use biomedical equipment properly.
• Develop new drug therapies.
• Alter the genetic makeup of organisms.
• Conduct research and present findings to relevant stakeholders.

Industries Employing Biomedical Engineers

Industries that employ biomedical engineers include the following:

• Healthcare
• Academic institutions
• Research and development

Chemical Engineer

Chemical engineers discover new ways of turning raw materials into useful products.

Average Salary

Chemical engineers earned a median annual wage of $105,550 in 2021. The top 10% of chemical engineers typically earn above $187,430, while the bottom 10% earn below $62,730.

Roles and Responsibilities

Chemical engineers typically carry out the following duties:

• Research better manufacturing processes.
• Establish safety procedures for working with dangerous chemicals.
• Develop processes for separating components of liquids and gasses.
• Discover ways of generating electrical currents by using controlled chemical processes.

Industries Employing Chemical Engineers

Chemical engineers can find employment in industries such as:

• Pharmaceuticals
• Healthcare
• Petrochemicals
• Manufacturing industries

Chemistry Consultant

Chemistry consultants advise stakeholders on business decisions within the chemical engineering field.

Average Salary

Chemistry consultants earn an average annual salary of $78,208. The top earners make over $112,000, while the lowest earn below $56,000. Consultants can earn additional payments of up to $14,948 per year.

Roles and Responsibilities

A chemistry consultant's duties include the following:

• Test production methods of engineering teams.
• Evaluate production processes to draw up budgets.
• Find non-disruptive ways to reduce production costs.
• Help investors substantiate the claims of researchers and inventors.

Industries Employing Chemistry Consultants

Industries that employ a chemistry consultant include the following:

• Investment firms
• Pharmaceuticals

Energy Engineer

Energy engineers find ways to improve our energy efficiency.

Average Salary

The average annual salary of an energy engineer is $71,434. The top 10% earn over $97,000, while the bottom 10% make below $57,000. Energy engineers can earn additional payments of up to $15,000 yearly.

Roles and Responsibilities

An energy engineer’s duties include the following:

• Research and develop cost-efficient energy systems.
• Design renewable energy technologies.
• Ensure that new designs meet environmental standards and legislation.
• Collect and analyze energy-usage data.

Industries Employing Energy Engineers

Industries that employ an energy engineer include the following:

• Manufacturing industries
• Government agencies

Environmental Engineer

Environmental engineers develop solutions to environmental problems

Average Salary

Environment engineers earned a median annual wage of $96,820 in 2021. The top 10% made over $153,200, while the bottom 10% earned below $59,820.

Roles and Responsibilities

The duties of an environmental engineer include the following:

• Find new methods of pollution control.
• Ensure that industrial facilities comply with safety and environmental regulations.
• Design environmental protection projects.
• Suggest procedures for cleaning contaminated sites.

Industries Employing Environmental Engineers

Environmental engineers can find employment in industries such as:

• Government agencies
• Engineering services

Food Engineer

Food engineers develop systems for the effective production, processing, storage, and distribution of food products.

Average Salary

The average annual salary of a food engineer is $78,757. The top 10% earn over $110,000, while the bottom 10% earn below $60,000. Food engineers can earn additional pay of up to $52,000 per annum.

Roles and Responsibilities

The responsibilities of food engineers include the following:

• Ensure that no dangerous chemicals are used in food processing and storage.
• Conduct research on improved methods of food production.
• Ensure compliance of food items to government regulations.

Industries Employing Food Engineers

Food engineers can find employment in industries such as:

• Government agencies
• Food production
• Agriculture

Materials Engineer

Materials engineers work in chemical plants to create new materials and optimize the use of old ones to create products.

Average Salary

In 2021, materials engineers earn a median annual wage of $98,300. The top 10% earn over $161,080, while the bottom 10% earn below $60,580.

Roles and Responsibilities

The responsibilities of a materials engineer include the following:

• Study the chemical structure of raw materials to discover viable usage.
• Refine the properties of certain materials to meet specific needs.
• Ensure that new materials comply with safety and environmental regulations.

Industries Employing Materials Engineer

A materials engineer can find employment in industries such as:

• Engineering services
• Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Mining Engineer

Mining engineers design mines to extract raw materials from beneath the earth.

Average Salary

In 2021, geological engineers earned a median annual wage of $97,090. The top 10% made over $162,720, while the bottom 10% earned below $48,690.

Roles and Responsibilities

The duties of a mining engineer include the following:

• Estimate mine production costs.
• Plan the raw material extraction process and byproducts treatment.
• Find and evaluate ore deposits.

Industries Employing Mining Engineer

Industries that can employ a mining engineer include the following:

• Mining services
• Government agencies
• Oil and gas extraction

Nuclear Engineer

Nuclear engineers deal with the efficient use of nuclear energy.

Average Salary

Nuclear engineers earned a median annual wage of $120,380 in 2021. The top 10% made over $169,000, while the bottom 10% earned below $75,460.

Roles and Responsibilities

The job duties of a nuclear engineer include the following:

• Direct facility operations in nuclear power plants.
• Designing equipment such as reactor cores and nuclear batteries.
• Ensure that nuclear facility designs comply with government regulations.
• Ensure proper nuclear waste disposal.

Industries Employing Nuclear Engineers

The following industries can employ a nuclear engineer:

• Scientific research and design
• Manufacturing

Petroleum Engineer

Petroleum engineers locator and extract oil and gas from beneath the earth.

Average Salary

Petroleum engineers earned a median annual salary of $130,850 in 2021. The top 10% earned over $208,000, while the bottom 10% made below $78,390.

Roles and Responsibilities

The responsibilities of a petroleum engineer include the following:

• Develop oil and gas extraction equipment.
• Petroleum byproducts’ treatment.
• Ensure that oilfield equipment complies with safety and environmental regulations.
• Evaluate oil well production.

Industries Employing Petroleum Engineers

Industries employing petroleum engineers include the following:

• Oil and gas extraction
• Engineering services

Pharmaceutical Engineer

Pharmaceutical engineers deal with the manufacturing and testing of new drugs.

Average Salary

The average base pay of a pharmaceutical engineer is $87,310. The top earners make over $128,000, while the low earners earn below $59,000. A pharmaceutical engineer can earn up to $36,000 annually in additional payments.

Roles and Responsibilities

The job description of a pharmaceutical engineer includes the following:

• Manufacturing and testing the product quality of new drugs.
• Submit new drug treatments for government approval.
• Study the reaction of animal biological processes to new drugs.

Industries Employing Pharmaceutical Engineers

Pharmaceutical engineers can find employment in industries such as:

• Pharmaceuticals
• Healthcare
• Scientific research and design

Plant Manager

Plant managers direct facility operations on chemical plants.

Average Salary

Plant managers earn an average annual base salary of $96,930. The top 10% earn above $62,000, while the bottom 10% earn below .$144,000. A plant manager can earn additional payments of up to $62,000.

Roles and Responsibilities

The responsibilities of a plant manager include the following:

• Estimate, analyze, and report production costs.
• Act as a point of contact between chemical plant operators and executives.
• Plan, optimize, and test production methods on plants.

Industries Employing Plant Managers

Plant managers work on chemical and industrial plants.

Plant Operator

Plant operators carry out the daily activities on a chemical or industrial plant.

Average Salary

The average annual base pay of a plant operator is $46,212. The top earners make over $54,000, while the low earners make below $36,000. Plant operators can still earn additional pay of up to $2,7000 yearly.

Roles and Responsibilities

The job duties of a plant operator include the following:

• Ensure compliance of plant operations comply with safety procedures.
• Running and maintenance of machines on the plant.

Industries Employing Plant Operators

Plant operators work on chemical and industrial plants.

Process Engineer

Process engineers evaluate and improve the chemical processes for manufacturing products.

Average Salary

The average annual base salary for a process engineer is $76,232. The top 10% earn over $105,000, while the bottom 10% earn less than $59,000. Process engineers can earn up to $35,000 in additional pay.

Roles and Responsibilities

The job description of a process engineer includes the following:

• Develop, plan, and optimize manufacturing processes.
• Ensure that finished product quality meets required standards.
• Collect data and submit reports to management.

Industries Employing Process Engineers

A process engineer can find employment in industries such as:

• Research and design
• Manufacturing

Production Engineer

Production engineers decide the best manufacturing process for products.

Average Salary

The average annual base salary of a production engineer is $73,612. The top 10% earn over $107,000, while the bottom 10% earn below $55,000. Production engineers can earn up to $29,000 in additional pay.

Roles and Responsibilities

The job description of a product engineer includes the following:

• Find cost-effective ways to meet production demands.
• Evaluate the staff necessary for production and partake in the hiring process.
• Estimate production budget

Industries Employing Production Engineers

Production engineers can find employment in industries such as:

• Manufacturing
• Research and design

Waste Management Officer

Waste management officers manage waste management facilities.

Average Salary

The average annual salary of a waste management officer is $62,094. The top 10% earn over $115,000, while the bottom 25% make below $31,500.

Roles and Responsibilities

The job requirements of a waste management officer include the following:

• Oversee waste treatment processes and street cleaning operations.
• Manage proper waste collection, disposal, and recycling.
• Lead waste awareness campaigns.

Industries Employing Waste Management Officers

Waste management officers can find employment in industries such as:

• Government agencies
• Waste management companies

How to Boost your Chemical Engineering Career

Pick a chemical engineering career path that appeals to you and select a graduate school. Ensure that you choose a school with proper research facilities.

Having lecturers who are constantly involved in research is a great advantage. Constant research will keep them abreast with new chemical engineering methods, which they will transfer to you.

You become sought-after even before graduation by joining outreach programs. These programs allow you to conduct and publish your research in engineering journals.

Pros and Cons of Chemical Engineering Careers

A chemical engineering career has several pros and cons. Let’s explore them.

Pros

• High annual base salary, opportunities for additional pay, and benefits.
• Make meaningful contributions to society.
• Chemical engineering skills are relevant in several industries

Cons

• Long years of study and research.
• You’ll regularly work with dangerous chemicals.
• Demanding and long work hours.

Skills You’ll Develop While Studying Chemical Engineering

Pursuing a chemical engineering degree will teach you some essential skills needed as a chemical engineer.

Analytical Skills

Chemical engineers analyze lots of data, problems, and processes. An excellent chemical engineer must have sharp analytical skills to detect issues and profer solutions.

Chemical engineers regularly use data analysis tools like charts, graphs, and Venn diagrams. These tools help the engineer to report his findings to upper management.

Computer Software Skills

Using relevant computer software for work process automation is a crucial chemical engineering skill. Computers simplify the jobs of chemical engineers for data analysis, design, or chemical process simulation.

Standard chemical engineering programs include Aspen, Hysys, Chemcad, DWsim, Apmonitor, ASCEND, and MATLAB.

Design skills

Design skills help a chemical engineer properly create new products in different industries. Also, chemical engineers need design skills to develop new plants, processes, or equipment.

Engineers achieve their desired workflow by applying their knowledge of several skills.

Health and Safety Consciousness

Health and safety consciousness protect a chemical engineer from the dangerous chemicals he’s often around.

Negligence to proper health and safety procedures can be deadly to the engineer. Additionally, a lack of adherence to these safety procedures can render finished products unfit for consumption.

Research Skills

Chemical engineers need research skills to understand existing concepts, which provide the framework for improving and creating new ideas and processes.

A good researcher can revise old processes with the advantage of new technology to optimize them.

Science Skills

A chemical engineer employs scientific principles and methods in his work. Therefore, he must learn science skills like observation, experimentation, measurement, and prediction.

The chemical engineer must also learn relevant scientific subjects like biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics.

How to Prepare for a Chemical Engineering Career

1. Earn a Chemical Engineering Degree

Unlike some other engineers, chemical engineers cannot take apprenticeships or internships without a degree. A bachelor’s degree is usually the minimum requirement to start your journey.

You must ensure that the engineering program you’re undertaking is ABET-accredited.

2. Complete an Internship or Co-operative Education Experience

Internships or cooperative education experience allow you to see a more practical side of your studies. You’ll see how senior engineers solve problems during the training.

Internships will show prospective employers that you have practical experience in the field.

3. Get a Professional Certification

Most employers only consider candidates with professional certifications. Professional certifications have varying requirements, including a chemical engineering degree, constant publications, etc.

You need to continue practicing and upgrading your skills as a chemical engineer to retain your certifications.

4. Join a Professional Organization

Professional organizations allow you to network, find employment and improve your skills. These organizations also expose you to your field's newest technologies and products.

The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) is the foremost professional organization for chemical engineers.

Chemical Engineering Resources to Help Your Career

Aside from your bachelor’s degree, below are some additional resources to help your career.

Certified Chemical Engineer (CCE) certification: CCE is the most basic certification for all chemical engineers, issued by the National Certification Commission in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.

Licensed Professional Engineer (LPE) certification: the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) issues an LPE to engineers who prove their competency by experience, education, and exam requirements.

Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE): the American Society for Quality issues the CRE to engineers who have proven their ability to improve product and systems safety and reliability.

How to Switch to a Chemical Engineering Career

A career in chemical engineering requires that you at least have a bachelor’s degree. Find an ABET-accredited institution with good research facilities and enroll there.

Gain practical experience and exposure in school through internships and outreach programs. Discover and learn the new skills that employers demand in your area of specialization.

Most importantly, search and apply for jobs both physically and online.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chemical Engineering?

Chemical engineering is the use of chemical processes for production. Chemical engineers apply their chemistry, biology, and economics knowledge to find the most efficient means of production.

What certification do I need for a Chemical Engineering career?

New engineers need a Certified Chemical Engineer (CCE) certification from the National Certification Commission in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.

You can later apply for the Licensed Professional Engineer (LPE) certification.

Can I get a Chemical Engineering degree online?

You can get a chemical engineering degree online; however, you’ll still need to take some practical courses on campus. You can complete basic English, math, and science courses online.

What fields can Chemical Engineering professionals work in?

Chemical engineering professionals can apply their skills to solve problems in fields such as:

• Fibers and polymers
• Food and beverages
• Nuclear power
• Oil and gas exploration
• Pharmaceuticals
• Refining
• Plastics and metals

Is there a high demand for Chemical Engineering majors?

The job outlook for chemical engineering majors is on a quick upward trajectory. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts an industry growth of around 14%, faster than the national average of 4%.

Final Thoughts

Chemical engineers will play a vital role in shaping various key industries. Therefore, the upward trend of demand for chemical engineers is no fluke. High job security, good pay, and relevance in several fields justify the high entry barrier.