The chemical engineer salary in the US stands at $72,537 per year. The pay for the same job varies around the world, Canada offering a mean chemical engineer salary of C$64,296 ($50,395), while in Australia the same professionals make AU$63,971 ($48,998) per year.
Chemical engineers working in the United Kingdom earn £33,106 ($43,502) per annum, while those working in Switzerland earn CHF95,320 ($95,415). Professionals with the same job from Norway can expect a median salary of NOK706,889 ($86,475).
Chemical Engineer Salary Influencers
Even though the salary of a chemical engineer varies according to experience, area, industry and a series of other factors, chemical engineer salaries generally revolve around the same numbers. Here we have gathered salary information from SalaryExpert, Payscale, and Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Chemical Engineer Emma Wong from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission at work.
1. Industry
A decisive factor for a chemical engineer starting salary is the industry. Here are a few BLS estimates that will help you get a better idea about different chemical engineering salaries:
- Coal and petroleum products manufacturing – $104,610.
- Engineering services – $103,270.
- Basic chemical manufacturing – $102,100.
- Resin, synthetic rubber, and artificial synthetic fibers and filaments manufacturing – $99,550.
- Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences – $98,210.
2. Geographical Area
Chemical Engineer Salary | US | Canada | UK | Australia | Switzerland | Norway |
Hourly Wage | $25.67 | C$29.89 | £25.50 | AU$30.82 | CHF46 | NOK340 |
Annual Wage | $72,537 | C$64,296 | £33,106 | AU$63,971 | CHF95,320 | NOK706,889 |
Chemical Engineer Salary in the US
There are various states where one can get a great starting salary for chemical engineer in the US. Out of all fifty states, Texas has the highest mean salary for chemical engineer ($122,190). After that, Delaware is a runner up for appealing salary for chemical engineers ($121,130). New Mexico, Louisiana and Alaska are the next three states, with chemical engineering salary estimates of $115,230, $113,840 and $112,570 per year, in that order. Other states with large chemical process engineer salary medians are:
- Arizona – $110,500
- Idaho – $110,220
- California – $107,280
- Maryland – $107,260
- Kansas – $105,340
The Eastern part of the States seems to have the lowest starting salary for chemical engineers, as well as employment rates. A few examples are:
- Mississippi – $85,460
- Michigan – $85,150
- Arkansas – $84,580
- Minnesota – $81,100
- Nebraska – $79,010
Chemical Engineering Salary by State
State | Employment | Annual mean wage ($) |
Alabama | 510 | 99,970 |
Alaska | 110 | 112,570 |
Arizona | 130 | 110,500 |
Arkansas | 200 | 84,580 |
California | 2340 | 107,280 |
Colorado | 600 | 91,250 |
Connecticut | 340 | 91,170 |
Delaware | 530 | 121,130 |
District of Columbia | 90 | 109,630 |
Florida | 530 | 96,560 |
Georgia | 430 | 91,010 |
Idaho | 80 | 110,220 |
Illinois | 840 | 99,540 |
Indiana | 700 | 103,070 |
Iowa | 170 | 90,570 |
Kansas | 210 | 105,340 |
Kentucky | 470 | 87,420 |
Louisiana | 2330 | 113,840 |
Maine | 130 | 97,820 |
Maryland | 720 | 107,260 |
Massachusetts | 920 | 104,980 |
Michigan | 610 | 85,150 |
Minnesota | 450 | 81,100 |
Mississippi | 130 | 85,460 |
Missouri | 610 | 90,740 |
Montana | 60 | 99,030 |
Nebraska | 150 | 79,010 |
Nevada | 40 | 101,760 |
New Hampshire | (8)- | 97,600 |
New Jersey | 1370 | 101,520 |
New Mexico | 80 | 115,230 |
New York | 1280 | 94,230 |
North Carolina | 770 | 86,200 |
Ohio | 1190 | 86,870 |
Oklahoma | 330 | 93,570 |
Oregon | 250 | 91,850 |
Pennsylvania | 1530 | 97,690 |
Puerto Rico | 60 | 63,040 |
South Carolina | 440 | 93,100 |
Tennessee | 560 | 94,870 |
Texas | 6910 | 122,190 |
Utah | 300 | 94,800 |
Virginia | 1180 | 102,520 |
Washington | 450 | 99,800 |
West Virginia | 270 | 101,450 |
Wisconsin | 620 | 88,660 |
Wyoming | 100 | 92,040 |
Source: BLS.gov
Chemical Engineer Salary in Canada
Chemical engineers living in Canada earn between C$47,696 and C$96,980 per year, but with the bonus which can reach C$14,720, the total pay increases significantly. In fact, with added bonuses and profit sharing of as much as C$9,696, chemical engineers can end up with C$102,215 per year.
Chemical Engineer Salary in the UK
Professionals who work in the United Kingdom have a salary starting of £22,602 which can go up to £62,025 depending on the industry and firm. While the hourly rate is at £25.50. However, experience significantly increases yearly earnings, as well as profit sharing which can be of £20,426 each year.
Chemical Engineer Salary in Australia
The chemical engineer salary for Australian workers stands between AU$49,094 and AU$115,560. While the pay per hour stands at AU$30.82. Additionally, yearly bonuses can reach even AU$10,766, making the final pay for chemical engineers as much as AU$117,916 per year.
Chemical Engineer Salary in Switzerland
A chemical engineer who works in Switzerland earns a mean annual wage of CHF95,320, while the hourly pay is CHF46, and the average yearly bonus stands at CHF3,555.
Chemical Engineer Salary in Norway
Norwegian chemical engineers earn a mean salary of NOK706,889 per year, having an hourly rate of NOK340. While the bonus per year is approximately NOK26,367.
3. Experience
The entry level chemical engineer salary is $69,000 per year, while a senior chemical engineer salary with an experience of 10-20 years cashes as much as $102,000, with this salary rising as they advance in their career.
We see a similar trend in pay for the same professionals working in Canada who start from a C$61,000 salary per year to win C$102,000 in their late career, salary that keeps growing once the years pass.
The salary for a chemical engineer in the UK starts from ₤30,000 per year and grows exponentially to reach as much as ₤75,000 after 20 years on the job. The same thing happens down in Australia, where the beginner’s salary is AU$62,000 and gradually rises to AU$120,000 per year for experienced professionals.
In Switzerland an entry-level chemical engineer earns CHF73,396 while a senior makes CHF116,912 per year. The Norwegian newbie gets paid NOK545,822 yearly, while the senior level salary stands at NOK869,432.
Working Hours
One of the potential downsides of being a chemical engineer is represented by the added working hours. In almost all cases, chemical engineers work at least full time. Depending on requirements and troubleshooting situations, chemical engineering professionals might need to work after hours.
While some chemical engineers work in labs, others work in offices. These employees also might have to work out of office, in refineries or industrial plants. Chemical engineers who have work sites outside of the country might need to travel there.
Bonuses & Benefit Packages
The bonus for an US chemical engineer ranges between $104.34 and $14,776 per year. Also, 90% of these professionals get medical insurance, while in Canada only 85% get that, plus a bonus of up to C$14,720 per year.
In the UK the bonus received yearly is between £246.58 and £9,123, while in Australia that is between AU$68.43 and AU$10,766. 44% of UK employees get medical insurance, while in Australia about 25% get it. Same professionals in Switzerland get an average bonus of CHF3,555 per year, while those from Norway get NOK26,367 yearly.
Aside from the salary and bonus, this professional also enjoys perks and other benefits. Furthermore, chemical engineers are known for having access to paid time off. Even though this isn’t a material benefit, a great aspect of chemical engineering is that the professionals in this field rarely get bored. They work actively and do not deal with tedious tasks that would result in a lack of focus or professional satisfaction.
Job Outlook
As the BLS reports, the job outlook for chemical engineers is estimated to grow 8% until 2026. The impressive chemical engineering jobs salary attracts new professionals in the key states and countries mentioned above. This profession has also started recently expanding in other branches, such as:
- alternative energy
- biotechnology
- nanotechnology
For a master’s degree in chemical engineering salary, one needs to complete the 5-year studies involved in the degree. If you want to start preparing for chemical engineer job, you can look into the accredited programs provided by ABET. Also, if you want to get an overview of another type of engineer, we suggest reading about the mechanical engineer salary as well.
Conclusion
Now that you know the starting salary chemical engineer candidates can expect, you can decide if this is the right career for you. Keep in mind that geography, industry, and experience are all decisive factors for the chemical engineer salary. All starting chemical engineers need to have at least a BA in the field, but a masters or PhD will greatly increase the chances for a higher salary.
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