Chemical Engineer salary in Pennsylvania
Chemical Engineers in Pennsylvania earn a median of $116,970 a year ($56.23 an hour), based on BLS data for 810 workers.
Pay ranges from $79,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $177,510 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $125,040. Pennsylvania ranks 20th of 41 states for chemical engineers pay. There are 0.13 chemical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $127,520, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemical engineers in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,940 | $38.43 |
| 25th percentile | $91,520 | $44.00 |
| Median | $116,970 | $56.23 |
| 75th percentile | $168,060 | $80.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $177,510 | $85.34 |
| Average (mean) | $127,520 | $61.31 |
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 | $9,747.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,873.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,498.85 |
| Weekly | $2,249.42 |
| Hourly | $56.23 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | $152,290 | 110 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $127,770 | 790 |
| Reading, PA | $100,190 | 50 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $97,850 | $47.04 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $97,920 | $47.08 |
| Industrial Engineer | $99,560 | $47.87 |
| Electrical Engineer | $110,820 | $53.28 |
| Engineers, All Other | $108,950 | $52.38 |
| Environmental Engineer | $103,330 | $49.68 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $121,260 | $58.30 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $133,940 | $64.40 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $122,560 | $58.92 |
| Materials Engineer | $98,030 | $47.13 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $101,880 | $48.98 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $121,730 | $58.52 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $133,250 | $64.06 |
| Agricultural Engineer | $80,300 | $38.61 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania?
The median salary for chemical engineers in Pennsylvania is $116,970 a year, or $56.23 an hour. Pay ranges from $79,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $177,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemical engineers make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of chemical engineers in Pennsylvania earn at least $177,510 a year. The top 25% earn $168,060 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemical engineers in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $79,940 a year, and a quarter of chemical engineers earn $91,520 or less.
How many chemical engineers work in Pennsylvania?
About 810 chemical engineers are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.