Chemical Engineering Job Statistics and Outlook 2024

February 29, 2024 by Kazu Fujimoto

If you’re interested in Chemical Engineering, you’ll need to understand these Chemical Engineering job statistics that we’re going to be laying out.

Chemical engineering is one of the hottest versatile and in-demand engineering disciplines.

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field is expected to grow by 14% between 2021 and 2031.

This growth is due in part to the increasing demand for chemical engineers in new industries such as renewable energy and continued work in industries such as Oil & Gas.

What information is needed for chemical engineering job seekers?

Let’s take a look at Chemical Engineering job statistics to provide you a big picture overview.

What is Chemical Engineering?

Chemical Engineering is an engineering discipline based on the foundations of chemistry, biology, mathematics, and physics. Chemical Engineers are responsible for the design and analysis of various industrial processes to carry out production.

How do you become a Chemical Engineer?

Becoming a Chemical Engineer consists of going to a 4-year university and getting a STEM degree.

Although a STEM degree isn’t required, it is highly recommended that you do.

A STEM degree opens up many opportunities outside of engineering and provides you the right foundation to effectively problem solve.

What are the Best Chemical Engineering companies to work for?

The 6 Best Chemical Engineering companies to work for are:

• Dow Chemical
• Ineos
• Chevron
• Schlumberger
• Exxon Mobil
• Shell

We picked these 6 companies due to their market dominance and position in the industry as leaders supporting the Chemical industry.

We advise working at bigger Chemical Engineering companies as they are more stable in work.

These companies dominate the Chemical and Oil & Gas market and as a result, reflected in their financials and market presence.

In general, for maximum job stability, you should be looking towards employment at bigger companies.

Bigger companies see more financial stability and as a result, are better able to handle downturns.

Chemical Engineering Demographic Breakdown

Employment

• 87% of chemical engineers are full time
• 13% of chemical are part time

Gender

• 60% of chemical engineers are men
• 40% of chemical engineers are women

Ethnicity

Chemical Engineering ethnicity breakdown are as follows:

• White – 37%
• South Asian – 21%
• East Asian – 13%
• Other – 9%
• Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish 9%
• Black or African – 6%
• Arab – 5%

Statistics from Career Explorer (LINK)

What skills do Chemical Engineers require?

As mentioned earlier Chemical Engineering utilizes Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, and more in their day to day careers.

A further breakdown of specific Chemical Engineering skillsets are:

• Mathematics
• Project Management
• Data Analytics
• Data Acquisition
• Data Reduction
• Data interpretation
• Aspen Hysys
• MATLAB
• Chemcad
• DWsim
• Apmonitor
• ASCEND

The above contain some of the necessary skills and software needed for chemical engineering.

How many Chemical Engineering students are enrolled in universities?

See real time breakdown of Chemical Engineering students by university:

University of Virginia School of Engineering

• 86 graduate students enrolled (Fall 2022)
• 129 undergraduate students enrolled (Fall 2022)

Texas A&M

• 221 graduate students enrolled (2022)
• 835 undergraduate students enrolled (2022)

Louisiana State University

• 7 graduate students enrolled (2022)
• 498 undergraduate students enrolled (2022)

How much do Chemical Engineers get paid?

The median pay for Chemical Engineers is $105,550 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (LINK)

What is the projected job outlook for Chemical Engineers?

The projected job outlook according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 14%, which is a faster pace than average.

For reference, Aerospace Engineering job outlook growth between 2021 – 2031 is 6%.

What do Chemical Engineers like about their jobs?

Chemical Engineers like the analytical work and the level of problem solving they do on a day-to-day basis.

They are required to have a good understanding of math and science and utilize those fundamentals in their day to day career.

What are some Chemical Engineering associations to join?

Some associations that Chemical Engineers can join are:

• AlChE – American Institute of Chemical Engineers
• Omega Chi Epsilon – Chemical Engineering Honor Society
• OChEGS – Organization of Chemical Engineering Graduate Students
• Society of Plastics Engineers – Student Chapter

What are people’s views on the outlook of the Chemical Engineering industry?

Chemical Engineering is a very lucrative field and there is very positive outlook – higher than average relative to other traditional engineering fields (non-tech related).

With the increasing concern over political issues such as climate change, sustainability, and environmental health overall, Chemical Engineers are necessary to carry out the work needed to better understand and address those issues.

Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydro provide many opportunities for Chemical Engineers in the upcoming years.

What concerns do people have with Chemical Engineers?

Compensation

As the world becomes increasingly reliant on technology, the demand for skilled chemical engineers is only expected to grow.

However, there are a number of concerns that potential students have about pursuing a career in this field. One of the most common concerns is compensation.

Chemical engineers typically earn a very competitive salary, but can pale in comparison to tech salaries.

Climate Change

Another major concern is climate change. Although the world is very heavily dependent on energy sources such as fossil fuels, we see the need for fossil fuels shifting long term.

Many chemical engineering jobs are in oil and gas production, which has been identified as a major contributor to climate change.

As a result, there is growing pressure on the industry to move away from fossil fuels and into more sustainable forms of energy.

For many students, this is a major factor in deciding whether or not to pursue a career in chemical engineering.

The good news is that there are plenty of other industries that utilize the skills of chemical engineers, so even if the oil and gas industry fades away, there will still be plenty of opportunities for employment.

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to pursue a career in chemical engineering comes down to each individual’s priorities and concerns.

Chemical Engineering Job Statistics Final Thoughts

As we have stated, Chemical Engineering is a very lucrative field for those who are looking to get into STEM.

Chemical Engineering work involves:

• Analytical Thinking
• Problem Solving
• Strong understanding of mathematics and science

Chemical Engineering provides work to support industries such as renewable energy, manufacturing, environmental, oil & gas, and many more.

They are decently paid with the average salary of Chemical Engineers exceeding the six-figure mark.

It’s a great career to get in for those who want challenging work that utilizes several competencies while supporting items such as environmental impacts and regulations.