Chemical Engineers

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics In demand
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.

What a chemical engineer does

Become a chemical engineer

If you enjoy doing these activities, you might make a good chemical engineer

  • Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
  • Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
  • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
  • Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
  • Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.

Discover what you could earn in Washington

  • Average hourly rate is $58 per hour with an average salary of $119,800 per year.
  • Half of workers earn between $41 and $67 per hour.
  • Half of workers earn an annual salary between $85,900 and $139,800 per year.

Chemical Engineer job outlook

  • There are 580 workers in this occupation in Washington.
  • There are 62 openings per year in this occupation in Washington.

Growth rate by year

Education needed

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Programs to get you there

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