Chemical Engineering salary: how much does a chemical engineer make?
A chemical engineer in the US earns a median of $125,040 a year, about $60.12 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $79,420 and the top 10% earn over $182,880. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, New Mexico, has a median of $158,190.
Chemical Engineering pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does a chemical engineer make an hour?
The median chemical engineer earns $60.12 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $38.19 for the lowest-paid 10% to $87.92 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $79,420 | $38.19 |
| Lower 25% | $97,820 | $47.03 |
| Median (typical) | $125,040 | $60.12 |
| Upper 25% | $157,190 | $75.57 |
| Top 10% | $182,880 | $87.92 |
Chemical Engineering salary by state
Median annual pay for chemical engineers by state, from BLS May 2025 data. “Not published” means BLS did not release a figure for that state, usually because too few employers reported this job there.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $135,030 | $64.92 |
| Alaska | $106,080 | $51.00 |
| Arizona | Not published | – |
| Arkansas | $105,270 | $50.61 |
| California | Not published | – |
| Colorado | $125,800 | $60.48 |
| Connecticut | $102,270 | $49.17 |
| Delaware | $133,670 | $64.26 |
| District of Columbia | Not published | – |
| Florida | $109,000 | $52.40 |
| Georgia | $103,880 | $49.94 |
| Hawaii | Not published | – |
| Idaho | $106,740 | $51.32 |
| Illinois | $121,560 | $58.44 |
| Indiana | $113,160 | $54.40 |
| Iowa | $117,590 | $56.53 |
| Kansas | $102,020 | $49.05 |
| Kentucky | $117,170 | $56.33 |
| Louisiana | $134,800 | $64.81 |
| Maine | Not published | – |
| Maryland | $127,190 | $61.15 |
| Massachusetts | $118,000 | $56.73 |
| Michigan | $103,230 | $49.63 |
| Minnesota | $107,670 | $51.76 |
| Mississippi | $106,740 | $51.32 |
| Missouri | $102,320 | $49.19 |
| Montana | $127,490 | $61.29 |
| Nebraska | $98,310 | $47.26 |
| Nevada | Not published | – |
| New Hampshire | $73,250 | $35.22 |
| New Jersey | $126,760 | $60.94 |
| New Mexico | $158,190 | $76.05 |
| New York | $129,060 | $62.05 |
| North Carolina | $117,410 | $56.45 |
| North Dakota | $115,400 | $55.48 |
| Ohio | $111,200 | $53.46 |
| Oklahoma | $127,790 | $61.44 |
| Oregon | $116,950 | $56.23 |
| Pennsylvania | $116,970 | $56.24 |
| Rhode Island | $111,590 | $53.65 |
| South Carolina | $101,570 | $48.83 |
| South Dakota | Not published | – |
| Tennessee | Not published | – |
| Texas | $132,750 | $63.82 |
| Utah | $85,520 | $41.12 |
| Vermont | Not published | – |
| Virginia | $136,380 | $65.57 |
| Washington | $128,290 | $61.68 |
| West Virginia | $129,210 | $62.12 |
| Wisconsin | $97,660 | $46.95 |
| Wyoming | Not published | – |
Highest-paying states for chemical engineers
- New Mexico: $158,190 median
- Virginia: $136,380 median
- Alabama: $135,030 median
- Louisiana: $134,800 median
- Delaware: $133,670 median
The lowest published medians are in New Hampshire ($73,250), Utah ($85,520), Wisconsin ($97,660), Nebraska ($98,310), South Carolina ($101,570). The most chemical engineer jobs are in Texas (2,610 jobs), Massachusetts (1,460 jobs), Ohio (1,030 jobs), Pennsylvania (810 jobs), Virginia (790 jobs).
How much does a chemical engineer make a month?
At the median salary of $125,040, a chemical engineer earns about $10,420 a month, $4,809 every two weeks or $2,405 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced chemical engineer pay
New chemical engineers typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $79,420 a year and the lowest 25% under $97,820. The top 25% earn over $157,190 and the top 10% over $182,880. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Chemical Engineering salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Chemical engineer | $125,040 |
| Aerospace engineer | $134,960 |
| Mechanical engineer | $104,110 |
| Electrical engineer | $120,630 |
| Civil engineer | $100,840 |
| Biomedical engineer | $109,370 |
| Architect | $99,280 |
Chemical Engineering take-home pay by state (2026)
2026 federal brackets and standard deduction, Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% plus 0.9% above $200,000 ($250,000 joint), and each state's 2026 income tax. Local income taxes, state disability or paid-leave payroll taxes and other deductions are not included. Estimate only, not tax advice.
Common questions
How much does a chemical engineer make?
The US median is $125,040 a year ($60.12 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a chemical engineer make an hour?
The median is about $60.12 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $38.19 and the top 10% about $87.92 an hour.
Which state pays chemical engineers the most?
New Mexico has the highest median at $158,190, followed by Virginia ($136,380) and Alabama ($135,030).
How much does a chemical engineer make a month?
At the US median of $125,040 a year, about $10,420 a month or $4,809 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level chemical engineer make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $79,420 a year and the lowest 25% under $97,820, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of chemical engineers make?
The top 10% earn over $182,880 a year; the top 25% earn over $157,190.
How much does a chemical engineer make in Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $132,750 in Texas, $109,000 in Florida, $129,060 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 17-2041, “Chemical Engineers”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.