Chemical Engineer salary

Q: How much does a chemical engineer make?

The median chemical engineer salary in the U.S. is about $112,100 per year. Most chemical engineers earn between $76,160 and $187,430, and top earners (90th percentile) make $187,430 or more. These national figures come from published U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS) wage data.

Q: How much do entry-level chemical engineers make?

Entry-level chemical engineers (0–2 years) earn about $87,500 per year, rising to roughly $121,000 at mid-level and $151,500+ at the principal/staff level. These by-experience figures are modeled estimates based on typical engineering career progression.

Q: Do chemical engineers make good money?

Yes. The median chemical engineer salary of $112,100 is 4% below the roughly $116,537 median across engineering occupations, and experienced chemical engineers can earn $187,430 or more.

Q: Which cities pay chemical engineers the most?

Estimated chemical engineer pay is highest in San Jose ($165,908), San Francisco ($159,182), Seattle ($145,730). These are cost-of-labor estimates that adjust the national baseline by local wage levels — not direct BLS metro wages.

Verified

Updated January 2025

Chemical engineers apply chemistry, physics, and biology to design processes that produce chemicals, fuels, drugs, and food.

Median pay

$112,100

U.S. typical

Top earners

$187,430

90th percentile

Entry level

$87,500

0–2 yrs

Senior

$151,500

15+ yrs

The median chemical engineer salary in the U.S. is about $112,100 per year. Entry-level pay starts near $76,160, while top earners (90th percentile) make $187,430 or more. Add your city and experience for a sharper, local number.

Median annual wage

$112,100

Mean

$121,860

10th pct · $76,16090th pct · $187,430

What chemical engineers do

Design and optimize chemical processes and equipment, scale up production, and ensure safety and environmental compliance.

Chemical engineers apply chemistry, physics, and biology to design processes that produce chemicals, fuels, drugs, and food.

What affects chemical engineer pay

▹Industry (oil & gas and pharma pay above commodities)
▹Process vs. R&D vs. plant operations
▹Years of experience
▹PE license for certain roles
▹Metro and state cost of labor

Chemical Engineer salary by experience

Pay typically climbs from about $87,500 for entry level engineers to $151,500+ at the principal / staff level.

Entry level 0–2 yrs

$87,500

Early career 3–5 yrs

$105,500

Mid level 6–9 yrs

$121,000

Senior 10–14 yrs

$137,000

Principal / Staff 15+ yrs

$151,500

Your actual offer depends on company, location, and specialization — run the calculator for a tailored range.

Highest-paying cities for chemical engineers

Estimated chemical engineer pay in the top-paying metros, vs the national median.

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Metro	State	Median	90th pct	vs U.S.	Data
San Jose California	CA	$165,908	$277,396	+48%	Estimate
San Francisco California	CA	$159,182	$266,151	+42%	Estimate
Seattle Washington	WA	$145,730	$243,659	+30%	Estimate
New York City New York	NY	$141,246	$236,162	+26%	Estimate
Boston Massachusetts	MA	$136,762	$228,665	+22%	Estimate
Washington, D.C. District of Columbia	DC	$134,520	$224,916	+20%	Estimate
Los Angeles California	CA	$132,278	$221,167	+18%	Estimate
San Diego California	CA	$128,915	$215,544	+15%	Estimate

Chemical Engineer salary by state

State	Est. median	Est. 90th pct
California	$139,004	$232,413
Texas	$116,584	$194,927
New York	$127,794	$213,670
Washington	$132,278	$221,167
Massachusetts	$130,036	$217,419

State figures are estimates — open a state for its full city-by-city breakdown.

Chemical Engineer salary — frequently asked questions

How much does a chemical engineer make?

The median chemical engineer salary in the U.S. is about $112,100 per year. Most chemical engineers earn between $76,160 and $187,430, and top earners (90th percentile) make $187,430 or more. These national figures come from published U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS) wage data.

What is the highest chemical engineer salary?

Top-earning chemical engineers (90th percentile) make about $187,430 or more nationally. In the highest-paying metros, estimated pay can run even higher — for example around $165,908 in San Jose. Metro figures are cost-of-labor estimates, not direct BLS metro data.

How much do entry-level chemical engineers make?

Entry-level chemical engineers (0–2 years) earn about $87,500 per year, rising to roughly $121,000 at mid-level and $151,500+ at the principal/staff level. These by-experience figures are modeled estimates based on typical engineering career progression.

Do chemical engineers make good money?

Yes. The median chemical engineer salary of $112,100 is 4% below the roughly $116,537 median across engineering occupations, and experienced chemical engineers can earn $187,430 or more.

Which cities pay chemical engineers the most?

Estimated chemical engineer pay is highest in San Jose ($165,908), San Francisco ($159,182), and Seattle ($145,730). These are cost-of-labor estimates that adjust the national baseline by local wage levels — not direct BLS metro wages.

How can a chemical engineer earn more?

Chemical Engineer pay rises most with industry (oil & gas and pharma pay above commodities), process vs. r&d vs. plant operations, and years of experience. Moving to a higher-cost metro, specializing, and taking on senior or lead scope are the biggest levers — the salary calculator lets you model each one.

Source details

National wage from BLS OEWS May 2024 for SOC 17-2041. Median and 90th-percentile annual wages.

Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →