SOC 172041

Chemical Engineers

Design chemical plant equipment and devise processes for manufacturing chemicals and products, such as gasoline, synthetic rubber, plastics, detergents, cement, paper, and pulp, by applying principles and technology of chemistry, physics, and engineering.

National Median

$121,860

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$121,860

Entry Level (10th pct)

$78,520

Experienced (90th pct)

$182,150

Total Employed

20,330

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience Level	Estimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience	$78,520 - $96,040
Mid Career2-8 years experience	$96,040 - $152,290
Senior / Expert8+ years experience	$152,290 - $182,150

Highest Paying Locations for Chemical Engineers

Tulsa, OK

$169,250

+38.9% vs national

Oklahoma

$160,990

+32.1% vs national

Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX

$152,290

+25.0% vs national

Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD

$151,360

+24.2% vs national

New Mexico

$147,290

+20.9% vs national

Chemical Engineers Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan Area	Median Salary	Employed
Tulsa, OK	$169,250	50
Oklahoma	$160,990	190
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$152,290	1,800
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$151,360	210
New Mexico	$147,290	80
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$140,900	550
West Virginia	$139,730	210
Kennewick-Richland, WA	$139,560	300
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$135,860	70
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$135,830	150
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$135,820	70
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$135,610	80
Texas	$135,160	2,780
Pittsburgh, PA	$133,880	170
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	$133,210	110
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	$133,070	190
Corpus Christi, TX	$132,670	70
Virginia	$132,550	1,020
New York	$132,480	560
Rochester, NY	$132,480	N/A
Colorado	$131,740	850
Columbus, IN	$131,510	60
Delaware	$131,330	390
Trenton-Princeton, NJ	$131,320	50
Louisiana	$131,180	780
Washington	$130,830	600
Baton Rouge, LA	$130,350	370
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$129,930	120
Maryland	$129,710	560
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$129,040	870
Toledo, OH	$129,010	90
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	$128,370	100
Omaha, NE-IA	$128,190	110
North Dakota	$127,970	60
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$127,290	100
St. Louis, MO-IL	$127,100	180
Lincoln, NE	$126,330	50
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$125,410	120
Springfield, MA	$125,340	40
Arizona	$125,050	170
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$125,050	90
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	$124,980	50
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area	$124,300	40
West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area	$123,690	80
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$122,950	300
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$122,660	580
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$122,190	750
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$122,110	150
Illinois	$120,360	490
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$120,300	850

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Chemical Engineers?

The national median annual salary for Chemical Engineers is $121,860, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.

Where do Chemical Engineerss earn the most?

The highest-paying metro area for Chemical Engineerss is Tulsa, OK, with a median salary of $169,250.

How much can an experienced Chemical Engineers make?

Top-earning Chemical Engineerss (90th percentile) make $182,150 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.