Chemical Engineer salary in New Jersey
Chemical Engineers in New Jersey earn a median of $126,760 a year ($60.94 an hour), based on BLS data for 440 workers.
Pay ranges from $81,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $185,190 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $125,040. New Jersey ranks 13th of 41 states for chemical engineers pay. There are 0.10 chemical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.75). The average (mean) salary is $129,080, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemical engineers in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,040 | $38.96 |
| 25th percentile | $95,520 | $45.93 |
| Median | $126,760 | $60.94 |
| 75th percentile | $157,190 | $75.57 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $185,190 | $89.04 |
| Average (mean) | $129,080 | $62.06 |
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 | $10,563.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,281.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,875.38 |
| Weekly | $2,437.69 |
| Hourly | $60.94 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chemical Engineer salary in cities in New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $135,110 | 40 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $127,770 | 790 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $126,830 | 510 |
Highest-paying states for chemical engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $158,190 |
| Virginia | $136,380 |
| Alabama | $135,030 |
| Louisiana | $134,800 |
| Delaware | $133,670 |
| Texas | $132,750 |
| West Virginia | $129,210 |
| New York | $129,060 |
| Washington | $128,290 |
| Oklahoma | $127,790 |
Related jobs in New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $104,660 | $50.32 |
| Industrial Engineer | $103,840 | $49.93 |
| Engineers, All Other | $132,450 | $63.68 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $112,300 | $53.99 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $126,430 | $60.79 |
| Electrical Engineer | $125,370 | $60.27 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $158,730 | $76.31 |
| Environmental Engineer | $102,630 | $49.34 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $114,680 | $55.14 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $142,880 | $68.69 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $119,370 | $57.39 |
| Materials Engineer | $106,920 | $51.41 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $99,800 | $47.98 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $62,960 | $30.27 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in New Jersey
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 New Jersey?
The median salary for chemical engineers in New Jersey is $126,760 a year, or $60.94 an hour. Pay ranges from $81,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $185,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemical engineers make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of chemical engineers in New Jersey earn at least $185,190 a year. The top 25% earn $157,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemical engineers in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $81,040 a year, and a quarter of chemical engineers earn $95,520 or less.
How many chemical engineers work in New Jersey?
About 440 chemical engineers are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.