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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021

17-2041 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 estimates for Chemical Engineers
Industry profile for Chemical Engineers
Geographic profile for Chemical Engineers

National estimates for Chemical Engineers:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Chemical Engineers:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
24,180 3.3 % $ 58.58 $ 121,840 3.6 %

Percentile wage estimates for Chemical Engineers:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 30.16 $ 38.53 $ 50.75 $ 66.98 $ 90.11
Annual Wage (2) $ 62,730 $ 80,140 $ 105,550 $ 139,310 $ 187,430


Industry profile for Chemical Engineers:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Chemical Engineers are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Chemical Engineers, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Chemical Engineers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) 7,000 1.99 $ 60.45 $ 125,740
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 3,320 0.22 $ 78.53 $ 163,350
Scientific Research and Development Services 2,940 0.37 $ 55.17 $ 114,750
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing 1,330 0.42 $ 47.03 $ 97,820
Management of Companies and Enterprises 1,090 0.04 $ 63.30 $ 131,670

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Chemical Engineers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) 7,000 1.99 $ 60.45 $ 125,740
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 850 0.82 $ 63.58 $ 132,240
Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing 370 0.43 $ 35.69 $ 74,240
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing 1,330 0.42 $ 47.03 $ 97,820
Scientific Research and Development Services 2,940 0.37 $ 55.17 $ 114,750

Top paying industries for Chemical Engineers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Oil and Gas Extraction 330 0.31 $ 80.35 $ 167,120
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 3,320 0.22 $ 78.53 $ 163,350
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil (8) (8) $ 77.30 $ 160,790
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing 90 0.06 $ 65.23 $ 135,670
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 850 0.82 $ 63.58 $ 132,240


Geographic profile for Chemical Engineers:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Chemical Engineers are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Chemical Engineers, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of chemical engineers by state, May 2021


States with the highest employment level in Chemical Engineers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Texas 5,920 0.48 2.82 $ 79.07 $ 164,470
Pennsylvania 1,650 0.30 1.72 $ 49.26 $ 102,450
California 1,540 0.09 0.54 $ 46.60 $ 96,920
Michigan 1,170 0.29 1.69 $ 52.72 $ 109,650
New Jersey 1,040 0.27 1.58 $ 59.28 $ 123,300


Map of location quotient of chemical engineers by state, May 2021


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Chemical Engineers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Delaware 460 1.06 6.21 $ 60.31 $ 125,450
Louisiana 990 0.55 3.23 $ 62.57 $ 130,140
Texas 5,920 0.48 2.82 $ 79.07 $ 164,470
Pennsylvania 1,650 0.30 1.72 $ 49.26 $ 102,450
Michigan 1,170 0.29 1.69 $ 52.72 $ 109,650


Map of annual mean wages of chemical engineers by state, May 2021


Top paying states for Chemical Engineers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Texas 5,920 0.48 2.82 $ 79.07 $ 164,470
Alaska 50 0.17 0.96 $ 76.98 $ 160,120
Idaho 150 0.20 1.15 $ 63.87 $ 132,850
Arizona 80 0.03 0.16 $ 63.68 $ 132,450
Louisiana 990 0.55 3.23 $ 62.57 $ 130,140



Map of employment of chemical engineers by area, May 2021


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Chemical Engineers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 3,890 1.34 7.83 $ 83.48 $ 173,640
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 1,320 0.50 2.90 $ 55.18 $ 114,780
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 960 0.11 0.64 $ 60.37 $ 125,560
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 610 0.17 1.00 $ 72.82 $ 151,460
Baton Rouge, LA 610 1.67 9.70 $ 68.23 $ 141,920
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 540 0.30 1.73 $ 54.70 $ 113,780
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 430 0.15 0.86 $ 54.49 $ 113,340
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 380 0.26 1.50 $ 47.98 $ 99,790
Pittsburgh, PA 370 0.36 2.08 $ 52.26 $ 108,700
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 350 0.06 0.35 $ 53.79 $ 111,880


Map of location quotient of chemical engineers by area, May 2021


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Chemical Engineers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Midland, MI 200 5.64 32.84 $ 53.69 $ 111,680
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX 310 2.08 12.10 $ 67.40 $ 140,190
Lake Charles, LA 150 1.70 9.92 $ 52.67 $ 109,560
Baton Rouge, LA 610 1.67 9.70 $ 68.23 $ 141,920
Kennewick-Richland, WA 180 1.53 8.91 $ 62.23 $ 129,430
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 3,890 1.34 7.83 $ 83.48 $ 173,640
Boulder, CO 190 1.06 6.19 $ 62.36 $ 129,700
Bay City, MI 30 0.99 5.79 $ 50.72 $ 105,490
East Stroudsburg, PA 50 0.91 5.28 $ 44.00 $ 91,510
Decatur, AL 50 0.86 5.02 $ 57.74 $ 120,090


Map of annual mean wages of chemical engineers by area, May 2021


Top paying metropolitan areas for Chemical Engineers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 3,890 1.34 7.83 $ 83.48 $ 173,640
Anchorage, AK 40 0.24 1.40 $ 76.45 $ 159,010
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 50 0.02 0.13 $ 73.47 $ 152,820
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 610 0.17 1.00 $ 72.82 $ 151,460
Midland, TX 50 0.48 2.80 $ 70.65 $ 146,940
Baton Rouge, LA 610 1.67 9.70 $ 68.23 $ 141,920
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX 310 2.08 12.10 $ 67.40 $ 140,190
Trenton, NJ 70 0.29 1.71 $ 67.08 $ 139,520
Corpus Christi, TX 100 0.58 3.39 $ 66.41 $ 138,130
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 230 0.21 1.24 $ 63.39 $ 131,840

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Chemical Engineers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 180 1.25 7.28 $ 61.62 $ 128,170
North Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 150 0.57 3.32 $ 54.01 $ 112,340
Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 80 0.70 4.09 $ 67.49 $ 140,380
Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area 70 1.13 6.61 $ 52.60 $ 109,400
South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area 50 0.58 3.35 $ 40.49 $ 84,230

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Chemical Engineers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 180 1.25 7.28 $ 61.62 $ 128,170
Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area 70 1.13 6.61 $ 52.60 $ 109,400
Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 80 0.70 4.09 $ 67.49 $ 140,380
South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area 50 0.58 3.35 $ 40.49 $ 84,230
North Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 150 0.57 3.32 $ 54.01 $ 112,340

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Chemical Engineers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 80 0.70 4.09 $ 67.49 $ 140,380
West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 30 0.16 0.96 $ 63.27 $ 131,610
West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area (8) (8) (8) $ 61.81 $ 128,560
Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 180 1.25 7.28 $ 61.62 $ 128,170
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area 50 0.25 1.43 $ 54.25 $ 112,840


About May 2021 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2021 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 31, 2022