Chemical Engineer salary in New York
Chemical Engineers in New York earn a median of $129,060 a year ($62.05 an hour), based on BLS data for 540 workers.
Pay ranges from $81,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $146,180 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $125,040. New York ranks 8th of 41 states for chemical engineers pay. There are 0.06 chemical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.41). The average (mean) salary is $120,480, close to the median.
Pay range for chemical engineers in New York
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,520 | $39.19 |
| 25th percentile | $89,440 | $43.00 |
| Median | $129,060 | $62.05 |
| 75th percentile | $145,670 | $70.03 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $146,180 | $70.28 |
| Average (mean) | $120,480 | $57.93 |
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 | $10,755 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,377.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,963.85 |
| Weekly | $2,481.92 |
| Hourly | $62.05 |
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 York
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Rochester, NY | $133,740 | n/a |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $129,060 | 40 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $126,830 | 510 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $112,770 | 70 |
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 York
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $103,760 | $49.89 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,640 | $49.34 |
| Electrical Engineer | $119,010 | $57.22 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $102,440 | $49.25 |
| Engineers, All Other | $117,600 | $56.54 |
| Environmental Engineer | $101,270 | $48.69 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $163,470 | $78.59 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $119,180 | $57.30 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $101,300 | $48.70 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $104,010 | $50.00 |
| Materials Engineer | $125,900 | $60.53 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $130,330 | $62.66 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $112,230 | $53.96 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $141,200 | $67.88 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in New York
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 York?
The median salary for chemical engineers in New York is $129,060 a year, or $62.05 an hour. Pay ranges from $81,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $146,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemical engineers make in New York?
The top 10% of chemical engineers in New York earn at least $146,180 a year. The top 25% earn $145,670 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemical engineers in New York?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $81,520 a year, and a quarter of chemical engineers earn $89,440 or less.
How many chemical engineers work in New York?
About 540 chemical engineers are employed in New York, not counting the self-employed.