Average Salary for Chemical Engineers
SOC 17-2041 · Architecture and Engineering Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Chemical Engineers in the United States is $121,860 ($58.59/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $78,520 at the 10th percentile to $182,150 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 20,330 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 25.7% since 2014.
Median Annual
$121,860
Mean Annual
$128,430
10th Pct
$78,520
75th Pct
$152,290
Employment
20,330
Salary Distribution
$79k
10th
$96k
25th
$122k
Median
$152k
75th
$182k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Tulsa, OK | $169,250 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $152,290 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $151,360 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $140,900 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $139,560 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $135,860 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $135,830 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $135,820 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $135,610 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $133,880 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $133,210 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $133,070 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $132,670 |
| Rochester, NY | $132,480 |
| Columbus, IN | $131,510 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Oklahoma | $160,990 |
| New Mexico | $147,290 |
| West Virginia | $139,730 |
| Texas | $135,160 |
| Virginia | $132,550 |
| New York | $132,480 |
| Colorado | $131,740 |
| Delaware | $131,330 |
| Louisiana | $131,180 |
| Washington | $130,830 |
| Maryland | $129,710 |
| North Dakota | $127,970 |
| Arizona | $125,050 |
| Illinois | $120,360 |
| Massachusetts | $119,260 |
| New Jersey | $118,340 |
| Oregon | $115,800 |
| Indiana | $115,570 |
| Ohio | $115,190 |
| Minnesota | $114,060 |
| Kentucky | $112,390 |
| Tennessee | $110,150 |
| North Carolina | $109,940 |
| Kansas | $107,200 |
| Pennsylvania | $107,040 |
| Idaho | $106,980 |
| Michigan | $106,690 |
| Alaska | $106,360 |
| Nebraska | $105,560 |
| South Carolina | $104,660 |
| Florida | $104,000 |
| Alabama | $103,620 |
| Mississippi | $102,470 |
| Georgia | $102,360 |
| Iowa | $101,080 |
| Missouri | $101,010 |
| Montana | $100,900 |
| Connecticut | $99,990 |
| Arkansas | $99,020 |
| Wisconsin | $92,530 |
| Rhode Island | $91,770 |
| Utah | $80,820 |
| Nevada | $78,220 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Chemical Engineers broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $140,960 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $140,960 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $140,900 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $140,630 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $138,480 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $138,480 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $138,480 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $135,560 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $135,560 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $135,290 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $135,290 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $134,430 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $134,430 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $132,550 |
| Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | $132,480 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $130,840 |
| Nuclear Electric Power Generation | $130,430 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $129,750 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $129,750 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $129,620 |
| Construction | $127,340 |
| Engineering Services | $125,420 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $122,800 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $122,800 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $122,020 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $121,220 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $121,180 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $121,180 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | $120,950 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) | $120,570 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $119,890 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $119,770 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $118,790 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | $118,050 |
| Utilities | $117,310 |
| Utilities | $117,310 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | $116,590 |
| Manufacturing | $116,170 |
| Wholesale Trade | $115,970 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | $115,880 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | $113,130 |
| Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | $113,130 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | $112,490 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | $110,440 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services | $107,370 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | $106,950 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | $106,860 |
| Paper Manufacturing | $106,720 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | $106,670 |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $105,080 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $104,020 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | $103,480 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $103,480 |
| Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | $103,310 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | $102,710 |
| Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | $102,200 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services | $101,160 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | $100,690 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $100,520 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing | $97,300 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) | $94,920 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | $94,880 |
| Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | $94,870 |
| Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | $93,860 |
| Other Food Manufacturing | $92,880 |
| Food Manufacturing | $89,340 |
| Waste Treatment and Disposal | $89,150 |
| Rubber Product Manufacturing | $86,880 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | $78,150 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $75,370 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | $74,460 |
| Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $73,190 |
| Educational Services | $64,450 |
| Educational Services | $64,450 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $64,450 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $64,450 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | $56,380 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $121,860 |
| 2023 | $112,100 |
| 2022 | $106,260 |
| 2021 | $105,550 |
| 2020 | $108,540 |
| 2019 | $108,770 |
| 2018 | $104,910 |
| 2017 | $102,160 |
| 2016 | $98,340 |
| 2015 | $97,360 |
| 2014 | $96,940 |