What is a Chemical Engineer?
Occupation Description Design chemical plant equipment and devise processes for manufacturing chemicals and products, such as gasoline, synthetic rubber, plastics, detergents, cement, paper, and pulp, by applying principles and technology of chemistry, physics, and engineering.
A Day in the Life of a Chemical Engineer
- Evaluate chemical equipment and processes to identify ways to optimize performance or to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
- Determine most effective arrangement of operations such as mixing, crushing, heat transfer, distillation, and drying.
- Develop processes to separate components of liquids or gases or generate electrical currents, using controlled chemical processes.
- Develop safety procedures to be employed by workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions.
- Design measurement and control systems for chemical plants based on data collected in laboratory experiments and in pilot plant operations.
- Conduct research to develop new and improved chemical manufacturing processes.
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Things a Chemical Engineer Should Know How to Do
Chemical Engineers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Types of Chemical Engineer
- Chemical Research Engineer
- Chemical Test Engineer
- Engineering Scientist
- Research Chemical Engineer
- Sand Analyst
Job Demand for Chemical Engineers
There were about 32,700 jobs for Chemical Engineer in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.3% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 2,400 new jobs for Chemical Engineer by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 2,400 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Chemical Engineer are North Dakota, Utah, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Kentucky, West Virginia, or District of Columbia. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Chemical Engineer Salary
The salary for Chemical Engineers ranges between about $64,890 and $169,770 a year.
Chemical Engineers who work in Texas, District of Columbia, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
How much do Chemical Engineers make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $112,780 |
| Alaska | $134,440 |
| Arizona | $99,580 |
| Arkansas | $87,880 |
| California | $103,590 |
| Colorado | $100,670 |
| Connecticut | $89,660 |
| Delaware | $120,280 |
| District of Columbia | $117,470 |
| Florida | $96,120 |
| Georgia | $91,530 |
| Idaho | $114,140 |
| Illinois | $94,830 |
| Indiana | $99,010 |
| Iowa | $107,490 |
| Kansas | $98,090 |
| Kentucky | $101,180 |
| Louisiana | $111,090 |
| Maryland | $113,670 |
| Massachusetts | $109,950 |
| Michigan | $102,780 |
| Minnesota | $98,910 |
| Mississippi | $109,940 |
| Missouri | $105,990 |
| Montana | $87,350 |
| Nebraska | $90,600 |
| New Hampshire | $79,110 |
| New Jersey | $122,210 |
| New Mexico | $110,020 |
| New York | $100,380 |
| North Carolina | $99,810 |
| Ohio | $96,080 |
| Oklahoma | $107,290 |
| Oregon | $98,810 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,390 |
| Rhode Island | $90,180 |
| South Carolina | $87,880 |
| Tennessee | $106,830 |
| Texas | $147,720 |
| Utah | $95,000 |
| Virginia | $111,440 |
| Washington | $103,620 |
| West Virginia | $97,430 |
| Wisconsin | $92,310 |
| Wyoming | $105,490 |
What Tools & Technology do Chemical Engineers Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Chemical Engineers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- SAP
- Microsoft Project
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Spreadsheet software
- Microsoft Visio
- Structured query language SQL
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- Microsoft Visual Basic
- R
- Minitab
- National Instruments LabVIEW
- C
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Dassault Systemes CATIA
Becoming a Chemical Engineer
Education needed to be a Chemical Engineer:
What work experience do I need to become a Chemical Engineer?
Where Chemical Engineers Work
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Similar Careers
Those interested in being a Chemical Engineer may also be interested in:
Career changers with experience as a Chemical Engineer sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: Mikulova via Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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