Chemical engineers
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Chemical Engineers: 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.
In 2004 engineers held 1.4 million jobs. The distribution of employment by engineering specialty is as follows:
| Total, all engineers | 1,449,000 | 100% |
| Civil | 237,000 | 16.4 |
| Mechanical | 226,000 | 15.6 |
| Industrial | 177,000 | 12.2 |
| Electrical | 156,000 | 10.8 |
| Electronics, except computer | 143,000 | 9.9 |
| Computer hardware | 77,000 | 5.3 |
| Aerospace | 76,000 | 5.2 |
| Environmental | 49,000 | 3.4 |
| Chemical | 31,000 | 2.1 |
| Health and safety, except mining safety | 27,000 | 1.8 |
| Materials | 21,000 | 1.5 |
| Nuclear | 17,000 | 1.2 |
| Petroleum | 16,000 | 1.1 |
| Biomedical | 9,700 | 0.7 |
| Marine engineers and naval architects | 6,800 | 0.5 |
| Mining and geological, including mining safety | 5,200 | 0.4 |
| Agricultural | 3,400 | 0.2 |
| All other engineers | 172,000 | 11.8 |
About 555,000 engineering jobs were found in manufacturing industries, and another 378,000 wage and salary jobs were in the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, primarily in architectural, engineering, and related services and in scientific research and development services. Many engineers also worked in the construction and transportation, telecommunications, and utilities industries.
Federal, State, and local governments employed about 194,000 engineers in 2004. About 91,000 of these were in the Federal Government, mainly in the U.S. Departments of Defense, Transportation, Agriculture, Interior, and Energy and in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Most engineers in State and local government agencies worked in highway and public works departments. In 2004, about 41,000 engineers were self-employed, many as consultants.
Engineers are employed in every State, in small and large cities and in rural areas. Some branches of engineering are concentrated in particular industries and geographic areas—for example, petroleum engineering jobs tend to be located in areas with sizable petroleum deposits, such as Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Alaska, and California. Others, such as civil engineering, are widely dispersed, and engineers in these fields often move from place to place to work on different projects.
Engineers are employed in every major industry. The industries employing the most engineers in each specialty are given in the table below, along with the percent of occupational employment in the industry.
| Specialty | Industry | Percent |
|---|---|---|
|
||
Aerospace |
Aerospace product and parts manufacturing | 59.6 |
Agricultural |
State and local government | 22.6 |
Biomedical |
Scientific research and development services | 18.7 |
|
Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing | 15.6 |
Chemical |
Chemical manufacturing | 27.8 |
|
Architectural, engineering, and related services | 16.3 |
Civil |
Architectural, engineering, and related services | 46.0 |
Computer hardware |
Computer and electronic product manufacturing | 43.2 |
|
Computer systems design and related services | 15.0 |
Electrical |
Architectural, engineering, and related services | 19.6 |
|
Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing | 10.8 |
Electronics, except computer |
Telecommunications | 17.5 |
|
Federal government | 14.4 |
Environmental |
Architectural, engineering, and related services | 28.9 |
|
State and local government | 19.6 |
Health and safety, except mining safety |
State and local government | 12.4 |
Industrial |
Machinery manufacturing | 7.8 |
|
Motor vehicle parts manufacturing | 7.1 |
Marine engineers and naval architects |
Architectural, engineering, and related services | 34.5 |
Materials |
Computer and electronic product manufacturing | 14.3 |
Mechanical |
Architectural, engineering, and related services | 18.1 |
|
Machinery manufacturing | 13.4 |
Mining and geological, including mining safety |
Mining | 49.9 |
Nuclear |
Electric power generation, transmission and distribution | 36.1 |
Petroleum |
Oil and gas extraction | 47.4 |
Earnings for engineers vary significantly by specialty, industry, and education. Even so, as a group, engineers earn some of the highest average starting salaries among those holding bachelor's degrees. The following tabulation shows average starting salary offers for engineers, according to a 2005 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
| Curriculum | Bachelor's | Master's | Ph.D. |
| Aerospace/aeronautical/astronautical | $50,993 | $62,930 | $72,529 |
| Agricultural | 46,172 | 53,022 | |
| Bioengineering & biomedical | 48,503 | 59,667 | |
| Chemical | 53,813 | 57,260 | 79,591 |
| Civil | 43,679 | 48,050 | 59,625 |
| Computer | 52,464 | 60,354 | 69,625 |
| Electrical/electronics & communications | 51,888 | 64,416 | 80,206 |
| Environmental/environmental health | 47,384 | ||
| Industrial/manufacturing | 49,567 | 56,561 | 85,000 |
| Materials | 50,982 | ||
| Mechanical | 50,236 | 59,880 | 68,299 |
| Mining & mineral | 48,643 | ||
| Nuclear | 51,182 | 58,814 | |
| Petroleum | 61,516 | 58,000 |
Variation in median earnings and in the earnings distributions for engineers in the various branches of engineering also is significant. For engineers in specialties covered in this statement, earnings distributions by percentile in May 2004 are shown in the following tabulation.
| Specialty | 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| Aerospace | $52,820 | $64,380 | $79,100 | $94,900 | $113,520 |
| Agricultural | 37,680 | 43,270 | 56,520 | 77,740 | 90,410 |
| Biomedical | 41,260 | 51,620 | 67,690 | 86,400 | 107,530 |
| Chemical | 49,030 | 60,920 | 76,770 | 94,740 | 115,180 |
| Civil | 42,610 | 51,430 | 64,230 | 79,920 | 94,660 |
| Computer hardware | 50,490 | 63,730 | 81,150 | 102,100 | 123,560 |
| Electrical | 47,310 | 57,540 | 71,610 | 88,400 | 108,070 |
| Electronics, except computer | 49,120 | 60,280 | 75,770 | 92,870 | 112,200 |
| Environmental | 40,620 | 50,740 | 66,480 | 83,690 | 100,050 |
| Health and safety, except mining safety | 39,930 | 49,900 | 63,730 | 79,500 | 92,870 |
| Industrial | 42,450 | 52,210 | 65,020 | 79,830 | 93,950 |
| Marine engineers and naval architects | 43,790 | 54,530 | 72,040 | 89,900 | 109,190 |
| Materials | 44,130 | 53,510 | 67,110 | 83,830 | 101,120 |
| Mechanical | 43,900 | 53,070 | 66,320 | 82,380 | 97,850 |
| Mining and geological, including mining safety | 39,700 | 50,500 | 64,690 | 83,050 | 103,790 |
| Nuclear | 61,790 | 73,340 | 84,880 | 100,220 | 118,870 |
| Petroleum | 48,260 | 65,350 | 88,500 | 113,180 | 140,800 |
In the Federal Government, mean annual salaries for engineers ranged from $100,059 in ceramic engineering to $70,086 in agricultural engineering in 2005.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Engineers)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Chemical engineers | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Mining employment: 270 mean earnings: $75,440 (EC) (def) (IG) | $39,930 | $55,760 | $72,400 | $94,310 | $116,540 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction employment: n.a. mean earnings: $82,060 | $39,480 | $61,440 | $84,680 | $106,720 | $121,100 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) employment: 120 mean earnings: $68,310 | $48,040 | $55,460 | $67,680 | $81,850 | $91,810 |
| Support Activities for Mining employment: n.a. mean earnings: $79,550 | $27,060 | $44,750 | $74,220 | $110,500 | $137,610 |
| Utilities employment: 200 mean earnings: $74,270 (EC) (def) (IG) | $49,850 | $58,050 | $74,210 | $87,800 | $101,830 |
| Utilities employment: 200 mean earnings: $74,270 | $49,850 | $58,050 | $74,210 | $87,800 | $101,830 |
| Manufacturing employment: 14,980 mean earnings: $77,790 (EC) (def) (IG) | $50,530 | $61,630 | $76,550 | $92,800 | $111,170 |
| Food Manufacturing employment: 280 mean earnings: $73,260 | $35,430 | $48,220 | $71,060 | $92,450 | $116,740 |
| Textile Mills employment: 30 mean earnings: $67,920 | $49,230 | $59,140 | $68,260 | $78,920 | $89,630 |
| Paper Manufacturing employment: 230 mean earnings: $71,950 | $51,870 | $60,460 | $71,350 | $85,030 | $95,220 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing employment: 1,590 mean earnings: $83,440 | $56,530 | $66,950 | $83,380 | $102,030 | $114,080 |
| Chemical Manufacturing employment: 9,030 mean earnings: $78,640 | $51,300 | $62,440 | $77,550 | $93,350 | $111,720 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing employment: 850 mean earnings: $70,790 | $46,340 | $55,030 | $68,550 | $84,660 | $101,080 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing employment: 90 mean earnings: $69,000 | $49,350 | $58,870 | $69,250 | $81,560 | $89,810 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing employment: 60 mean earnings: $70,590 | $49,000 | $56,920 | $69,520 | $81,560 | $90,680 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing employment: 130 mean earnings: $68,930 | $44,130 | $56,530 | $67,820 | $82,450 | $96,320 |
| Machinery Manufacturing employment: 500 mean earnings: $71,330 | $48,290 | $56,080 | $69,310 | $85,780 | $101,590 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing employment: 1,170 mean earnings: $77,070 | $49,580 | $60,290 | $76,050 | $92,470 | $111,310 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing employment: 140 mean earnings: $67,520 | $49,330 | $55,600 | $66,000 | $80,010 | $92,200 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing employment: 730 mean earnings: $78,900 | $52,300 | $63,630 | $78,850 | $94,000 | $111,810 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing employment: 130 mean earnings: $70,420 | $47,830 | $53,910 | $68,120 | $84,670 | $99,060 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 980 mean earnings: $72,440 (EC) (def) (IG) | $43,560 | $52,860 | $71,540 | $88,820 | $107,430 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 80 mean earnings: $77,800 | $51,020 | $58,120 | $74,000 | $92,380 | $117,290 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: 860 mean earnings: $71,710 | $42,530 | $51,880 | $71,030 | $88,450 | $106,290 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers employment: 40 mean earnings: $77,610 | $52,310 | $62,910 | $73,550 | $91,080 | $114,530 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 120 mean earnings: $83,330 (EC) (def) (IG) | $60,900 | $72,690 | $83,540 | $94,960 | $112,290 |
| Pipeline Transportation employment: n.a. mean earnings: $84,900 | $58,990 | $67,750 | $84,740 | $104,480 | $116,360 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 7,790 mean earnings: $83,690 (EC) (def) (IG) | $49,280 | $61,540 | $79,680 | $100,700 | $124,280 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 7,790 mean earnings: $83,690 | $49,280 | $61,540 | $79,680 | $100,700 | $124,280 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 760 mean earnings: $84,280 (EC) (def) (IG) | $57,900 | $66,590 | $82,270 | $100,690 | $118,720 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 760 mean earnings: $84,280 | $57,900 | $66,590 | $82,270 | $100,690 | $118,720 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 520 mean earnings: $67,460 (EC) (def) (IG) | $45,430 | $53,730 | $65,500 | $80,860 | $93,010 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 370 mean earnings: $67,050 | $45,450 | $55,140 | $65,580 | $79,150 | $89,680 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 150 mean earnings: $68,450 | $45,400 | $51,460 | $65,080 | $85,370 | $102,030 |
| Educational Services employment: 370 mean earnings: $64,450 (EC) (def) (IG) | $34,320 | $43,070 | $58,460 | $82,950 | $106,280 |
| Educational Services employment: 370 mean earnings: $64,450 | $34,320 | $43,070 | $58,460 | $82,950 | $106,280 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: n.a. mean earnings: $95,140 (EC) (def) (IG) | $49,650 | $74,210 | $99,200 | $112,920 | $136,320 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 1,290 mean earnings: $79,110 (def) (IG) | $48,300 | $61,380 | $78,820 | $98,740 | $111,770 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 1,290 mean earnings: $79,110 | $48,300 | $61,380 | $78,820 | $98,740 | $111,770 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.