How Much Does a Chemical Engineer Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$125,040
Chemical engineers in the U.S. earn a median of $125,040 a year, or $60.12 an hour. Half of chemical engineers earn more than $125,040 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $182,880.
Pay percentiles for chemical engineers
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38.19 | $79,420 |
| 25th | $47.03 | $97,820 |
| 50th (median) | $60.12 | $125,040 |
| 75th | $75.57 | $157,190 |
| 90th | $87.92 | $182,880 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Chemical Engineers (SOC 17-2041). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for chemical engineers
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $158,190 | $76.05 | +27% |
| Virginia | $136,380 | $65.57 | +9% |
| Alabama | $135,030 | $64.92 | +8% |
| Louisiana | $134,800 | $64.81 | +8% |
| Delaware | $133,670 | $64.27 | +7% |
| Texas | $132,750 | $63.82 | +6% |
| West Virginia | $129,210 | $62.12 | +3% |
| New York | $129,060 | $62.05 | +3% |
| Washington | $128,290 | $61.68 | +3% |
| Oklahoma | $127,790 | $61.44 | +2% |
| United States | $125,040 | $60.12 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many chemical engineers are there?
BLS counts about 21,070 chemical engineers employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). The most jobs are in Texas (2,610), California (2,190) and Massachusetts (1,460).
The mean (average) annual wage is $129,980, higher than the median of $125,040.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $10,420
- Biweekly
- $4,809
- Weekly
- $2,405
- Daily (8 hours)
- $481
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do chemical engineers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for chemical engineers is $60.12. The middle 50% earn between $47.03 and $75.57 an hour.
Which state pays chemical engineers the most?
New Mexico has the highest median wage for chemical engineers at $158,190, +27% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for chemical engineers?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of chemical engineers earn less than $79,420 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.