Chemical Engineer salary in the U.S.
Chemical Engineers in the U.S. earn a median of $125,040 a year ($60.12 an hour), based on BLS data for 21,070 workers.
Pay ranges from $79,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $182,880 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $129,980, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemical engineers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,420 | $38.19 |
| 25th percentile | $97,820 | $47.03 |
| Median | $125,040 | $60.12 |
| 75th percentile | $157,190 | $75.57 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $182,880 | $87.92 |
| Average (mean) | $129,980 | $62.49 |
Half of chemical engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,420 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,210 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,809.23 |
| Weekly | $2,404.62 |
| Hourly | $60.12 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chemical Engineer salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $158,190 | 160 |
| Virginia | $136,380 | 790 |
| Alabama | $135,030 | 600 |
| Louisiana | $134,800 | 730 |
| Delaware | $133,670 | 370 |
| Texas | $132,750 | 2,610 |
| West Virginia | $129,210 | 160 |
| New York | $129,060 | 540 |
| Washington | $128,290 | 650 |
| Oklahoma | $127,790 | 110 |
| Montana | $127,490 | 80 |
| Maryland | $127,190 | 500 |
| New Jersey | $126,760 | 440 |
| Colorado | $125,800 | 720 |
| Illinois | $121,560 | 520 |
| Massachusetts | $118,000 | 1,460 |
| Iowa | $117,590 | 40 |
| North Carolina | $117,410 | 380 |
| Kentucky | $117,170 | 190 |
| Pennsylvania | $116,970 | 810 |
| Oregon | $116,950 | 140 |
| North Dakota | $115,400 | 80 |
| Indiana | $113,160 | 720 |
| Rhode Island | $111,590 | 50 |
| Ohio | $111,200 | 1,030 |
| Florida | $109,000 | 230 |
| Minnesota | $107,670 | 210 |
| Idaho | $106,740 | 140 |
| Mississippi | $106,740 | 150 |
| Alaska | $106,080 | n/a |
| Arkansas | $105,270 | 290 |
| Georgia | $103,880 | 330 |
| Michigan | $103,230 | 670 |
| Missouri | $102,320 | 320 |
| Connecticut | $102,270 | 410 |
| Kansas | $102,020 | 280 |
| South Carolina | $101,570 | 390 |
| Nebraska | $98,310 | 130 |
| Wisconsin | $97,660 | 110 |
| Utah | $85,520 | n/a |
| New Hampshire | $73,250 | 40 |
Best-paying metro areas for chemical engineers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | $163,380 | 80 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $152,290 | 110 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $139,220 | 40 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $138,120 | 1,510 |
| Mobile, AL | $137,170 | 150 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $136,870 | 190 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $136,810 | 100 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $135,110 | 40 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $134,800 | 360 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $134,210 | 320 |
| Rochester, NY | $133,740 | n/a |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $133,450 | 110 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $132,820 | 640 |
| Toledo, OH | $132,760 | 70 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $131,690 | 70 |
Metro areas with the most chemical engineers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,510 | $138,120 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 910 | $109,460 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 790 | $127,770 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 640 | $132,820 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 510 | $126,830 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 410 | $128,110 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 380 | $102,320 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 370 | $110,760 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 360 | $134,800 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 320 | $130,030 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 320 | $134,210 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 300 | $107,610 |
| Worcester, MA | 260 | $104,060 |
| Cleveland, OH | 240 | $108,350 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 230 | $103,520 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $100,840 | $48.48 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,440 | $49.25 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,110 | $50.05 |
| Electrical Engineer | $120,630 | $58.00 |
| Engineers, All Other | $122,930 | $59.10 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $130,220 | $62.60 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $161,740 | $77.76 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $134,960 | $64.89 |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,110 | $51.50 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $109,370 | $52.58 |
| Materials Engineer | $112,860 | $54.26 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $115,160 | $55.36 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $144,910 | $69.67 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $133,970 | $64.41 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemical engineer make in the U.S.?
The median salary for chemical engineers in the U.S. is $125,040 a year, or $60.12 an hour. Pay ranges from $79,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $182,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemical engineers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of chemical engineers in the U.S. earn at least $182,880 a year. The top 25% earn $157,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemical engineers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $79,420 a year, and a quarter of chemical engineers earn $97,820 or less.
How many chemical engineers work in the U.S.?
About 21,070 chemical engineers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.