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Chemical Engineers in Iowa

Chemical Engineers in Iowa

Considering working as a Chemical Engineers in Iowa? Here’s what you need to know. 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.

What do Chemical Engineers Make in Iowa?

For chemical engineers working in Iowa, the typical annual salary is $101,080 per year (or roughly $48.59/hour).Annual wages span from $82,700 at the 10th percentile to $126,600 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic Annual Hourly
10th percentile $82,700 $39.76
25th percentile $88,230 $42.42
Median (50th) $101,080 $48.59
75th percentile $117,330 $56.41
90th percentile $126,600 $60.86
Salary ranges for Chemical Engineers in Iowa

The job concentration index in Iowa relative to the national average — is 0.28, indicating fewer chemical engineers per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, chemical engineers earn a median of $130,903 per year ($62.93/hour), lower than the Iowa median.

Chemical Engineers earnings in Iowa vs. the national average

Employment Outlook

National employment for 213,738 chemical engineers across the United States. In Iowa alone, approximately 60 people work in this role. That’s fewer than the typical state, which employs around 340 chemical engineers.

Chemical Engineers in Iowa vs. the average state Forecasted number of jobs for Chemical Engineers

Top States for Chemical Engineers Employment

The table below shows the states where the most chemical engineers work.

State Number Employed
Texas 2,780
California 1,260
Massachusetts 1,140
Ohio 1,100
Virginia 1,020
Pennsylvania 970
Colorado 850
Michigan 780
Louisiana 780
Washington 600
Maryland 560
New York 560
Alabama 540
Illinois 490
New Jersey 480
North Carolina 450
Tennessee 450
Missouri 450
Delaware 390
Connecticut 380

Highest-Paying States for Chemical Engineers

These states pay the most for chemical engineers.

State Annual Median Salary
Oklahoma $160,990
New Mexico $147,290
West Virginia $139,730
Texas $135,160
Virginia $132,550
New York $132,480
Colorado $131,740
Delaware $131,330
Louisiana $131,180
Washington $130,830

Skills

The most important chemical engineers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Science  4.1 / 5
0
5
Critical Thinking  4.1 / 5
0
5
Complex Problem Solving  4.0 / 5
0
5
Reading Comprehension  4.0 / 5
0
5
Judgment and Decision Making  3.9 / 5
0
5
Active Learning  3.9 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Engineering and Technology  4.8 / 5
0
5
Chemistry  4.7 / 5
0
5
Mathematics  4.3 / 5
0
5
Design  4.0 / 5
0
5
Physics  4.0 / 5
0
5
Production and Processing  4.0 / 5
0
5

Abilities

Top abilities for chemical engineers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Written Comprehension  4.0 / 5
0
5
Oral Expression  4.0 / 5
0
5
Deductive Reasoning  4.0 / 5
0
5
Information Ordering  4.0 / 5
0
5
Inductive Reasoning  4.0 / 5
0
5
Oral Comprehension  4.0 / 5
0
5

Daily Tasks

Chemical Engineers typically:

  • Develop safety procedures to be employed by workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions.
  • Troubleshoot problems with chemical manufacturing processes.
  • Monitor and analyze data from processes and experiments.
  • Evaluate chemical equipment and processes to identify ways to optimize performance or to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
  • Design and plan layout of equipment.
  • Prepare estimate of production costs and production progress reports for management.
  • Perform tests and monitor performance of processes throughout stages of production to determine degree of control over variables such as temperature, density, specific gravity, and pressure.
  • Conduct research to develop new and improved chemical manufacturing processes.
  • 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.
  • Design measurement and control systems for chemical plants based on data collected in laboratory experiments and in pilot plant operations.
  • Perform laboratory studies of steps in manufacture of new products and test proposed processes in small-scale operation, such as a pilot plant.

Work Activities

  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Working with Computers
  • Getting Information
  • Analyzing Data or Information
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
  • Processing Information
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
  • Documenting/Recording Information

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Autodesk AutoCAD, C In-demand technologies: Autodesk AutoCAD

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Programs that train for this career include:

  • Chemical Engineering
  • Polymer & Plastics Engineering
  • Biochemical Engineering
  • Ceramic Engineering
  • Paper Science & Engineering
  • Engineering Chemistry

Careers similar to chemical engineers include:

Also Known As

Absorption and Adsorption Engineer, Blending Coordinator, Chemical Design Process Engineer, Chemical Engineer, Chemical Process Engineer, Chemical Research Engineer, Chemical Test Engineer, Control Systems Engineer, Controls Engineer, Development Engineer, Engineer, Engineering Scientist, Explosives Engineer, Fuel Engineer, Gas Combustion Engineer.

References

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