Chemical Engineer salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Chemical Engineers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $133,450 a year ($64.16 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $90,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $198,140 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $125,040. Pay here is 30% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $102,320. There are 0.08 chemical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.62). The average (mean) salary is $141,730, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemical engineers in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $90,090 | $43.31 |
| 25th percentile | $106,850 | $51.37 |
| Median | $133,450 | $64.16 |
| 75th percentile | $166,480 | $80.04 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $198,140 | $95.26 |
| Average (mean) | $141,730 | $68.14 |
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 | $11,120.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,560.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,132.69 |
| Weekly | $2,566.35 |
| Hourly | $64.16 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chemical Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Peoria, IL | $111,880 | 30 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $110,760 | 370 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $102,320 | 380 |
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 |
See Chemical Engineer pay in every state or the Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $96,830 | $46.55 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,230 | $49.15 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $100,340 | $48.24 |
| Electrical Engineer | $123,960 | $59.59 |
| Engineers, All Other | $103,880 | $49.94 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $112,490 | $54.08 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $120,020 | $57.70 |
| Environmental Engineer | $94,980 | $45.66 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $92,350 | $44.40 |
| Materials Engineer | $114,670 | $55.13 |
| Agricultural Engineer | $124,340 | $59.78 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $80,440 | $38.67 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $62,430 | $30.01 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $98,800 | $47.50 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in St. Louis, MO-IL
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 St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median salary for chemical engineers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $133,450 a year, or $64.16 an hour. Pay ranges from $90,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $198,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemical engineers make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The top 10% of chemical engineers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn at least $198,140 a year. The top 25% earn $166,480 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemical engineers in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $90,090 a year, and a quarter of chemical engineers earn $106,850 or less.
How many chemical engineers work in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About 110 chemical engineers are employed in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.