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Chemical Engineering Majors’ Salary Over the Career
This figure shows median earnings by age for those who majored in Chemical Engineering but have a bachelor’s degree only: “This Major (BA only)”, and those who majored in Chemical Engineering but obtained a masters degree or higher: “This Major (Grad Degree)”. For reference, “All Majors (BA only)” contains the median income for all college graduates who have a bachelor’s degree only, and “All Majors (Grad Degree)” contains the median income for all college graduates who have a Master’s degree or higher.
This table highlights key outcomes for Chemical Engineering majors, compared to averages for all college graduates.
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Top 10 Early-Career Occupations (Bachelor’s only)
These are the top occupations for Chemical Engineering majors aged 25-35 who have a BA only (no graduate degree) and the median income they received in the occupation. The share indicates the percentage of Chemical Engineering majors aged 25-35 with a BA only who worked in that occupation.
| Share | Occupation | Income |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Chemical Engineers | 110,000 |
| 9 | Engineers, nec | 102,000 |
| 9 | Industrial Engineers, including Health and Safety | 99,400 |
| 7 | Managers, nec (including Postmasters) | 119,000 |
| 3 | Civil Engineers | 102,000 |
| 3 | Software Developers, Applications and Systems Software | 108,000 |
| 2 | Petroleum, mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers | 133,000 |
| 2 | Management Analysts | 104,000 |
| 2 | Unemployed | 0 |
| 2 | First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | 104,000 |
Top 10 Mid-Career Occupations (Bachelor’s only)
These are the top occupations for Chemical Engineering majors aged 45-55 who have a BA only (no graduate degree) and the median income they received in the occupation. The share indicates the percentage of Chemical Engineering majors aged 45-55 with a BA only who worked in that occupation.
| Share | Occupation | Income |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Managers, nec (including Postmasters) | 168,000 |
| 9 | Chemical Engineers | 167,000 |
| 6 | Engineers, nec | 147,000 |
| 6 | Unemployed | 0 |
| 3 | Architectural and Engineering Managers | 197,000 |
| 3 | Industrial Engineers, including Health and Safety | 140,000 |
| 3 | Industrial Production Managers | 167,000 |
| 3 | Chief executives and legislators/public administration | 259,000 |
| 3 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing | 162,000 |
| 2 | Software Developers, Applications and Systems Software | 132,000 |
Top 10 Mid-Career Occupations (Master’s Degree or higher)
These are the top occupations for Chemical Engineering majors aged 45-55 who have completed graduate work (Masters, PhD, Professional Degree) and the median income they received in the occupation. The share indicates the percentage of Chemical Engineering majors aged 45-55 with graduate degrees who worked in that occupation.
| Share | Occupation | Income |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Managers, nec (including Postmasters) | 209,000 |
| 6 | Chemical Engineers | 169,000 |
| 5 | Engineers, nec | 164,000 |
| 4 | Chief executives and legislators/public administration | 295,000 |
| 4 | Postsecondary Teachers | 133,000 |
| 4 | Physicians and Surgeons | 438,000 |
| 3 | Unemployed | 0 |
| 3 | Software Developers, Applications and Systems Software | 160,000 |
| 3 | Lawyers, and judges, magistrates, and other judicial workers | 238,000 |
| 3 | Management Analysts | 149,000 |
Top 10 Early-Career Industries
These are the top industries for Chemical Engineering majors aged 25-35 and the median income they received in the industry. The share indicates the percentage of Chemical Engineering majors aged 25-35 who worked in that industry.
| Share | Industry | Income |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Industrial and miscellaneous chemicals | 116,000 |
| 7 | Engineering, architectural, and surveying services | 99,200 |
| 6 | Drugs | 113,000 |
| 4 | Computer and data processing services | 108,000 |
| 4 | Research, development, and testing services | 97,700 |
| 4 | Colleges and universities | 59,000 |
| 4 | Management and public relations services | 108,000 |
| 4 | Electrical machinery, equipment, and supplies, n.e.c. | 108,000 |
| 3 | Petroleum refining | 146,000 |
| 3 | Oil and gas extraction | 147,000 |
Top 10 Mid-Career Industries
These are the top industries for Chemical Engineering majors aged 45-55 and the median income they received in the industry. The share indicates the percentage of Chemical Engineering majors aged 45-55 who worked in that industry.
| Share | Industry | Income |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Industrial and miscellaneous chemicals | 183,000 |
| 6 | Engineering, architectural, and surveying services | 157,000 |
| 4 | Drugs | 188,000 |
| 4 | Electrical machinery, equipment, and supplies, n.e.c. | 166,000 |
| 4 | N/A (not applicable) | 0 |
| 4 | Computer and data processing services | 160,000 |
| 4 | Management and public relations services | 155,000 |
| 3 | Colleges and universities | 123,000 |
| 3 | Research, development, and testing services | 180,000 |
| 3 | Petroleum refining | 228,000 |
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