SOC 17-2041 · May 2025
Chemical Engineer Salary
Chemical Engineers in the US earn a median of $125,040 a year ($62.49 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Chemical Engineer pay climbed from $117,090 in 2019 to $129,980 in 2025, a +11.0% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$125,040
Half of all Chemical Engineers in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+11.0% since 2019 · +1.2% YoY
Hourly
$62.49
Job growth 2025-35
+4.7%
US workers
21,070
BLS series
Annual median wage for Chemical Engineers in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Chemical Engineers is $79,420 – $182,880.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$79,420
25th
$97,820
Median
$125,040
75th
$157,190
90th
$182,880
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Chemical Engineers. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $79,420 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $97,820 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $125,040 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $157,190 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $182,880 |
Geography
Chemical Engineer pay by state
Chemical Engineers earn the most in New Mexico ($158,190, +27% against the national median) and the least in New Hampshire ($73,250). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 41 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$125,040
Highest-paying states for chemical engineers
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $158,190 | +27% | 160 |
| Virginia | $136,380 | +9% | 790 |
| Alabama | $135,030 | +8% | 600 |
| Louisiana | $134,800 | +8% | 730 |
| Delaware | $133,670 | +7% | 370 |
| Texas | $132,750 | +6% | 2,610 |
| West Virginia | $129,210 | +3% | 160 |
| New York | $129,060 | +3% | 540 |
| Washington | $128,290 | +3% | 650 |
| Oklahoma | $127,790 | +2% | 110 |
All 41 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $158,190 | 160 |
| Virginia | $136,380 | 790 |
| Alabama | $135,030 | 600 |
| Louisiana | $134,800 | 730 |
| Delaware | $133,670 | 370 |
| Texas | $132,750 | 2,610 |
| West Virginia | $129,210 | 160 |
| New York | $129,060 | 540 |
| Washington | $128,290 | 650 |
| Oklahoma | $127,790 | 110 |
| Montana | $127,490 | 80 |
| Maryland | $127,190 | 500 |
| New Jersey | $126,760 | 440 |
| Colorado | $125,800 | 720 |
| Illinois | $121,560 | 520 |
| Massachusetts | $118,000 | 1,460 |
| Iowa | $117,590 | 40 |
| North Carolina | $117,410 | 380 |
| Kentucky | $117,170 | 190 |
| Pennsylvania | $116,970 | 810 |
| Oregon | $116,950 | 140 |
| North Dakota | $115,400 | 80 |
| Indiana | $113,160 | 720 |
| Rhode Island | $111,590 | 50 |
| Ohio | $111,200 | 1,030 |
| Florida | $109,000 | 230 |
| Minnesota | $107,670 | 210 |
| Idaho | $106,740 | 140 |
| Mississippi | $106,740 | 150 |
| Alaska | $106,080 | – |
| Arkansas | $105,270 | 290 |
| Georgia | $103,880 | 330 |
| Michigan | $103,230 | 670 |
| Missouri | $102,320 | 320 |
| Connecticut | $102,270 | 410 |
| Kansas | $102,020 | 280 |
| South Carolina | $101,570 | 390 |
| Nebraska | $98,310 | 130 |
| Wisconsin | $97,660 | 110 |
| Utah | $85,520 | – |
| New Hampshire | $73,250 | 40 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Chemical Engineers
Chemical engineers (BLS SOC 17-2041) apply principles of chemistry, biology, physics, and math to solve problems involving the production or use of chemicals, fuel, drugs, food, and other products. Pay varies sharply by industry: petroleum, pharmaceuticals, and specialty chemicals exceed the OEWS median; commodity chemicals and food processing fall closer to it. PE licensure is standard for senior project responsibility.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $79,420 – $182,880. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are New Mexico, Virginia and Alabama. Pay in New Mexico runs 2.2 times the level in New Hampshire, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as bachelor's degree, and projects about 1,100 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 4.7% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Chemical Engineer salary in the US?
How much does a Chemical Engineer make an hour?
How much do Chemical Engineers make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Chemical Engineers the most?
Is the average Chemical Engineer salary higher than the median?
Is Chemical Engineer a growing career?
Open positions
Open Chemical Engineer roles hiring now
Browse current Chemical Engineer listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 17-2041. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.