Salary comparison
Chemical Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer salary
Chemical Engineers out-earn mechanical engineers by about $19,540 at the median. Here is the full side-by-side breakdown — pay range, top states, and experience.
Chemical Engineers earn more — a median of $121,860 versus $102,320 for mechanical engineers, a gap of about $19,540 (19%). Both figures are published national wage benchmarks.
Chemical Engineer
Verified$121,860
Median annual wage
- Entry (10th pct)
- $78,520
- Top 10%
- $182,150
- Discipline
- Architecture & Engineering
Mechanical Engineer
Verified$102,320
Median annual wage
- Entry (10th pct)
- $68,740
- Top 10%
- $161,240
- Discipline
- Architecture & Engineering
Chemical Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer — pay distribution
Percentile-by-percentile comparison of national annual wages.
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentileChemical Engineer | $78,520 |
| MedianChemical Engineer | $121,860 |
| 90th percentileChemical Engineer | $182,150 |
| 10th percentileMechanical Engineer | $68,740 |
| MedianMechanical Engineer | $102,320 |
| 90th percentileMechanical Engineer | $161,240 |
Pay by experience
Modeled progression from entry to principal level for each role (estimated from the national percentile curve).
Chemical Engineer
Mechanical Engineer
Where each role pays most
Highest-paying states by published median wage.
Chemical Engineer
- Oklahoma$160,990
- New Mexico$147,290
- West Virginia$139,730
- Texas$135,160
- Virginia$132,550
Mechanical Engineer
- New Mexico$141,490
- District of Columbia$130,000
- Alaska$129,990
- California$126,370
- Massachusetts$122,670
Which should you choose?
On pay alone, chemical engineers earn about 19% more at the median — but location and specialization routinely move pay by more than that gap.
Pick chemical engineer if…
Chemical engineers apply chemistry, physics, and biology to design processes that produce chemicals, fuels, drugs, and food.
- ▹Industry (oil & gas and pharma pay above commodities)
- ▹Process vs. R&D vs. plant operations
- ▹Years of experience
Pick mechanical engineer if…
Mechanical engineers design, develop, and test mechanical and thermal devices, from engines and tools to HVAC and manufacturing systems.
- ▹Industry (aerospace and oil & gas pay above automotive/consumer)
- ▹Professional Engineer (PE) license
- ▹Years of experience
Chemical Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer — frequently asked
Who earns more, chemical engineers or mechanical engineers?
What is the salary range for chemical engineers vs mechanical engineers?
Should I become a chemical engineer or a mechanical engineer?
Source details
Published wage from BLS OEWS May 2024 for SOC 17-2041 (Chemical Engineers), national.
Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →