How much does a chemical engineer make?

In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, in-demand skills, and whether a PE license is useful for the job. It also varies by employer or industry and location; plant work may require extra hours to meet production goals or fix problems.

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's a typical day like?

They may start at a computer, checking process data, or in a lab testing a small-scale process. Then they check safety, fix production problems, and may visit a plant to monitor equipment.

Study science and math, then earn a four-year chemical engineering bachelor’s degree; internships help, so many start in their early 20s. In the U.S., entry-level jobs need no license; a PE later requires FE and PE exams plus work experience.

Usually a bachelor's degree (preparation level 4 of 5)

Good for people who like building and doing and figuring things out.

University of Tulsa chemical engineering professors have made 91-octane gasoline from algae.

The US figure is the median and the Japan figure is the average, so it's not a perfect comparison. Prices differ too.