Chemical engineers
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Chemical engineers in the United States earn a median salary of $125,040 per year — about $60 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 22K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +3%.
AI & Automation Risk
Chemical engineering involves a significant amount of digital knowledge work, including process simulation, CAD design, and data analysis, which are highly susceptible to AI-driven optimization. However, the role is anchored by the need for physical presence in laboratories and industrial plants to monitor equipment, ensure safety compliance, and troubleshoot hardware in the real world.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NMBEST VALUE | $163,380 | Below avg (95.5) | $170,996 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $152,290 | Below avg (94.7) | $160,862 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $136,810 | Below avg (85.9) | $159,356 |
| Mobile, AL | $137,170 | Below avg (88.1) | $155,702 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $134,800 | Below avg (90.8) | $148,491 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $136,870 | Below avg (92.6) | $147,813 |
| Toledo, OH | $132,760 | Below avg (91.5) | $145,164 |
| Wichita, KS | $128,780 | Below avg (88.9) | $144,784 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $129,850 | Below avg (90.0) | $144,204 |
| Tulsa, OK | $127,360 | Below avg (89.2) | $142,758 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $133,450 | Below avg (95.1) | $140,344 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $138,120 | Average (98.6) | $140,040 |
| Rochester, NY | $133,740 | Average (97.0) | $137,827 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $139,220 | Average (101.1) | $137,667 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $126,690 | Below avg (92.7) | $136,709 |