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Chemical Engineering

The tables below present the occupations that are most commonly associated with a degree in Chemical Engineering. We have separated the tables depending on whether we examine graduates who stop their education with the bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering, and those who get either a masters in Chemical Engineering, a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. While the list above describes the occupations of students with advanced degrees in Chemical Engineering some students with a bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering will get advanced degrees in other fields. The tables listed below descibe the types of advanced degrees that were chosen by students with a bachelors in Chemical Engineering. Since all of the above tables present information on the average salary, it is possible to lose sight of the fact that some majors place students in jobs with a narrow range of salaries near to the mean while others place students in many different income categories. For this reason, we have drawn two frequency distributions (histograms) of Chemical Engineering Salaries.









Histogram of Chemical Engineering Salaries: Bachelors Degree Only

The diagram below includes all students with a major in Chemical Engineering who received no degree beyond the bachelors.

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Histogram of Chemical Engineering Salaries: Bachelors and Beyond

The diagram below includes all students with a major in Chemical Engineering while an undergraduate. The data includes students who subsequently earned degrees beyond the bachelors.

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Bachelors Degree

The information in the table below is based on data from people of all sexes and ages whose most recent college degree was a bachelors degree majoring in Chemical Engineering.

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  Avg 1993   Number of     Pct of
  Salary    Observations   Majors  Description of Occupation
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  $57,839        389       46.48   Engineers:  Chemical
  $78,957         92       10.99   Top and mid-level managers, executives, administrators (people who manage other managers)
  $51,353         75        8.96   Engineers:  Environmental
  $38,228         26        3.11   Chemists, except biochemists
  $57,521         25        2.99   Other engineers
  $65,658         20        2.39   OTHER management related occupations
  $47,463         13        1.55   OTHER OCCUPATIONS (Not Listed)
  $61,991         12        1.43   Engineers:  Sales
  $54,703         11        1.31   Sales Occupations - Commodities Except Retail (e.g., industrial machinery/equipment/supplies, medical and dental equiptment/supplies)
  $51,612          9        1.08   Computer system analysts
  $51,140          9        1.08   Engineers:  Civil, including architectural and sanitary
  $55,741          9        1.08   Engineers:  Mechanical
  $58,224          9        1.08   OTHER marketing and sales occupations
  $48,798          9        1.08   Engineers: Industrial
  $72,880          8         .96   Engineers:  Petroleum
  $60,984          8         .96   Engineers:  Aeronautical, aerospace, astronautical
  $56,325          8         .96   Engineers:  Electrical, electronic
  $61,391          8         .96   Computer engineer - software
  $53,667          7         .84   Engineers:  Nuclear
  $54,520          6         .72   Computer programmers (business, scientific, process control)
  $56,768          6         .72   Engineers:  Materials or metallurgical
  $39,071          5         .60   Insurance, securities, real estate, and business services
  $53,300          4         .48   Information systems scientists or analysts
  $38,460          4         .48   Technologists and technicians in the physical sciences
  $35,950          4         .48   Precision/production occupations (e.g., workers, woodworkers, butchers, bakers, printing occupations, tailors, shoemakers, photographic process)
  $49,735          4         .48   OTHER computer, information science Occupations
  $35,256          4         .48   Operators and related occupations (e.g., machine set-up, machine operators and tenders, fabricators, assemblers)
  $41,865          4         .48   OTHER engineering technologists and technicians
  $55,867          3         .36   Engineers:  Bioengineering and biomedical
  $26,387          3         .36   OTHER service occupations, except health
  $38,266          3         .36   Accounting clerks, bookkeepers
  $28,867          3         .36   OTHER administrative (e.g., record clerks, telephone operators)
  $50,500          2         .24   Personnel, training, and labor relations specialists
  $30,030          2         .24   Secretaries, receptionists, typists
  $34,859          2         .24   Health Technologists and Technicians (e.g., dental hygienists, health record technologists/technicians, licensed practical nurses, medical or laboratory technicians, radiologic technologists/technicians)
  $37,580          2         .24   Computer engineer - hardware
  $37,800          2         .24   Transportation/material moving occupations
  $45,000          2         .24   OTHER health occupations
  $44,982          2         .24   Accountants, auditors, and other financial specialists
  $72,000          1         .12   Clergy and Other Religious Workers
  $80,000          1         .12   Atmospheric and space scientists
  $80,000          1         .12   Diagnosing Treating Practitioners (e.g., dentists, optometrists, physicians, psychiatrists, podiatrists, surgeons, veterinarians)
  $62,000          1         .12   Computer scientists, except system analysts
  $93,000          1         .12   Architects Engineers (Also see 101-103)
  $93,600          1         .12   Geologists, including earth scientists
  $68,000          1         .12   Artists, Broadcasters, Editors, Entertainers, Public Relations Specialists, Writers
  $22,000          1         .12   Professors:  Chemistry
  $50,000          1         .12   Oceanographers
  $50,000          1         .12   Economists
  $49,644          1         .12   Surveying and mapping
  $46,800          1         .12   Construction trades, miners and well drillers
  $45,760          1         .12   Drafting occupations, including computer drafting
  $45,000          1         .12   Biological scientists (e.g., botanists, ecologists, zoologists)
  $41,600          1         .12   Engineers:  Electrical, electronic, industrial, mechanical
  $40,000          1         .12   Professors:  Engineering
  $30,000          1         .12   Technologists and technicians in the biological/life sciences
  $30,000          1         .12   Agricultural and food scientists
  $28,800          1         .12   Statisticians
  $28,200          1         .12   Food Preparation and Service (e.g., cooks, waitresses, bartenders)
  $26,500          1         .12   Technologists and technicians in the mathematical sciences
  $24,000          1         .12   Teachers:  Secondary - computer, math or sciences
  $24,000          1         .12   Sales Occupations - Retail (e.g., furnishings, clothing, motor vehicles, cosmetics)

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Masters

The information in the table below is based on data from people of all sexes and ages whose most recent college degree was a masters degree in Chemical Engineering.

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  Avg 1993   Number of     Pct of
  Salary    Observations   Majors  Description of Occupation
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  $64,415        130       51.79   Engineers:  Chemical
  $89,043         32       12.75   Top and mid-level managers, executives, administrators (people who manage other managers)
  $53,514         19        7.57   Engineers:  Environmental
  $48,870         10        3.98   Chemists, except biochemists
  $53,289         10        3.98   Engineers:  Materials or metallurgical
  $53,200          4        1.59   Engineers:  Mechanical
  $66,150          4        1.59   Other engineers
  $74,835          3        1.20   Computer engineer - hardware
  $65,471          3        1.20   Computer engineer - software
  $54,919          3        1.20   Engineers: Industrial
  $56,180          3        1.20   Computer system analysts
  $65,980          2         .80   OTHER engineering technologists and technicians
  $78,000          2         .80   Engineers:  Sales
  $75,000          2         .80   OTHER management related occupations
  $25,252          2         .80   Insurance, securities, real estate, and business services
  $71,659          2         .80   Engineers:  Civil, including architectural and sanitary
  $62,570          2         .80   Engineers:  Petroleum
  $51,602          2         .80   Engineers:  Aeronautical, aerospace, astronautical
  $27,296          2         .80   Engineers:  Bioengineering and biomedical
  $20,800          1         .40   Protective services (e.g., fire fighters, police, guards)
  $80,000          1         .40   Sales Occupations - Commodities Except Retail (e.g., industrial machinery/equipment/supplies, medical and dental equiptment/supplies)
  $75,000          1         .40   Artists, Broadcasters, Editors, Entertainers, Public Relations Specialists, Writers
  $70,000          1         .40   OTHER computer, information science Occupations
  $35,360          1         .40   Biochemists and biophysicists
  $35,000          1         .40   Atmospheric and space scientists
  $62,000          1         .40   OTHER physical scientists
  $62,000          1         .40   Diagnosing Treating Practitioners (e.g., dentists, optometrists, physicians, psychiatrists, podiatrists, surgeons, veterinarians)
  $58,740          1         .40   OTHER health occupations
  $42,605          1         .40   Agricultural and food scientists
  $45,000          1         .40   Information systems scientists or analysts
  $54,000          1         .40   OTHER OCCUPATIONS (Not Listed)
  $48,000          1         .40   Statisticians
  $49,000          1         .40   OTHER marketing and sales occupations

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Ph.D.

The information in the table below is based on data from people of all sexes and ages whose most recent college degree was a Ph.D. degree in Chemical Engineering.

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  Avg 1993   Number of     Pct of
  Salary    Observations   Majors  Description of Occupation
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  $66,876         59       52.68   Engineers:  Chemical
 $110,283         18       16.07   Top and mid-level managers, executives, administrators (people who manage other managers)
  $66,536         11        9.82   Professors:  Engineering
  $83,867          3        2.68   Engineers:  Bioengineering and biomedical
  $67,667          3        2.68   Chemists, except biochemists
  $69,280          3        2.68   Engineers:  Materials or metallurgical
  $59,850          2        1.79   Computer engineer - software
  $61,500          2        1.79   Engineers:  Electrical, electronic
  $75,000          1         .89   Engineers:  Nuclear
 $120,000          1         .89   Engineers:  Environmental
 $112,000          1         .89   OTHER management related occupations
  $90,000          1         .89   OTHER engineering technologists and technicians
  $30,000          1         .89   Medical scientists (excluding practitioners)
  $72,000          1         .89   Engineers:  Petroleum
  $62,500          1         .89   Engineers:  Agricultural
  $61,920          1         .89   OTHER biological/life scientists
  $60,000          1         .89   Professors:  Chemistry
  $58,000          1         .89   Biochemists and biophysicists
  $33,240          1         .89   OTHER physical scientists

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Masters Degrees earned by students with a Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering



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  Avg 1993   Number of     Pct of
  Salary    Observations   Majors  Description of Field of Study
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  $64,301        192       39.26   Engineering: Chemical
  $69,579        102       20.86   Business administration and management
  $56,329         23        4.70   Engineering: Environmental
  $71,006         20        4.09   Financial management
  $65,862         13        2.66   Business, general
  $59,031         13        2.66   OTHER business management/administrative services
  $53,042         11        2.25   Computer science
  $54,528         11        2.25   Engineering: Mechanical
  $75,040         10        2.04   Business marketing/marketing management
  $77,888          8        1.64   Engineering: Materials, including ceramics and textiles
  $53,784          7        1.43   OTHER engineering
  $61,400          7        1.43   Engineering: Civil
  $53,400          6        1.23   Engineering: Bioengineering and biomedical
  $62,146          6        1.23   Engineering sciences, mechanics, physics
  $61,760          5        1.02   Engineering: Industrial
  $60,250          4         .82   Business/managerial economics
  $53,825          4         .82   Engineering: Electrical, electronics, communications
  $54,799          4         .82   Operations research
  $66,733          3         .61   Engineering: Metallurgical
  $72,931          3         .61   Engineering: Nuclear
  $57,015          3         .61   OTHER philosophy, religion, theology
  $56,940          2         .41   OTHER engineering-related technologies
  $75,000          2         .41   Engineering: Computer/systems
  $79,400          2         .41   Engineering: General
  $53,062          2         .41   Information services and systems
  $49,500          2         .41   Marketing research
  $48,330          2         .41   Forestry sciences (Except management)
  $47,500          2         .41   Engineering: Petroleum
  $46,800          1         .20   Mechanical engineering-related technologies
  $11,040          1         .20   Food sciences and technology
  $78,000          1         .20   Engineering: Aerospace, aeronautical, astronautical
  $14,400          1         .20   Chemistry
  $24,000          1         .20   Engineering: Electrical and electronic technologies
  $32,000          1         .20   Philosophy of science
  $41,600          1         .20   Environmental science studies
  $72,000          1         .20   Public administration
  $45,000          1         .20   Architecture/Environmental Design
  $54,462          1         .20   OTHER foreign languages and literature
  $65,000          1         .20   Engineering: Industrial production technologies
  $49,920          1         .20   Computer/information sciences, general
  $50,000          1         .20   Microbiology
  $50,000          1         .20   Accounting
  $61,400          1         .20   OTHER FIELDS (Not Listed)
  $52,000          1         .20   Computer programming
  $60,000          1         .20   Mathematics, general
  $54,000          1         .20   Education:  Science teacher education

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PhD's earned by students with a Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering



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  Avg 1993   Number of     Pct of
  Salary    Observations   Majors  Description of Field of Study
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  $76,954         93       64.14   Engineering: Chemical
  $63,845         17       11.72   Chemistry
  $61,640          4        2.76   Engineering: Industrial
  $63,492          2        1.38   Engineering: Nuclear
 $107,850          2        1.38   Economics
  $86,400          2        1.38   Engineering: Metallurgical
  $70,000          2        1.38   Engineering: Petroleum
  $52,500          2        1.38   Engineering: Bioengineering and biomedical
  $55,500          2        1.38   Biochemistry
  $55,500          2        1.38   Biochemistry and biophysics
  $59,500          2        1.38   Computer science
  $59,500          2        1.38   OTHER business management/administrative services
  $60,000          2        1.38   Engineering: Materials, including ceramics and textiles
 $150,000          1         .69   Computer/information sciences, general
  $88,088          1         .69   Engineering: Civil
  $86,615          1         .69   Engineering sciences, mechanics, physics
  $12,000          1         .69   Financial management
  $62,000          1         .69   Pharmacology, human and animal
  $53,000          1         .69   Microbiology
  $51,696          1         .69   Operations research
  $50,600          1         .69   Physiology, human and animal
  $50,000          1         .69   OTHER physical sciences
  $45,000          1         .69   Food sciences and technology
  $39,660          1         .69   Engineering: Environmental
  $30,000          1         .69   Medicine (e.g., dentistry, optometry, osteopathic, podiatry, veterinary)
  $17,904          1         .69   Education:  Administration

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Other Professiona Degrees earned by students with a Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering

Other advanced degrees include: JD, LLB, ThD, MD, and the DDS.

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  Avg 1993   Number of     Pct of
  Salary    Observations   Majors  Description of Field of Study
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 $110,942         23       58.97   Medicine (e.g., dentistry, optometry, osteopathic, podiatry, veterinary)
 $106,667          3        7.69   Engineering: Chemical

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Prepared by Prof. Ken Chapman: 73122.1717@compuserve.com