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Top 15 cities for chemical engineers by average salary
| Houston, TX | $155,750 |
|---|---|
| Austin, TX | $149,140 |
| Dallas, TX | $147,410 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $144,900 |
| Trenton, NJ | $144,720 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $143,640 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $142,640 |
| St. Louis, MO | $141,730 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $141,510 |
| Tulsa, OK | $140,840 |
| Beaumont, TX | $139,830 |
| Toledo, OH | $139,120 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $139,050 |
| Kennewick, WA | $137,890 |
| New Orleans, LA | $137,320 |
Map: Chemical Engineers salary by metro area
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Chemical Engineers salary by state
New Mexico pays chemical engineers the most statewide, $147,420 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $147,420 | $158,190 | 160 | 1 | $143,640 | $143,640 |
| Texas | $144,350 | $132,750 | 2,610 | 5 | $155,750 | $132,960 |
| California | n/a | n/a | 2,190 | 2 | $142,640 | $116,630 |
| Washington, D.C. | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | $135,740 | $135,740 |
| Louisiana | $135,190 | $134,800 | 730 | 3 | $144,900 | $136,220 |
| Oklahoma | $135,010 | $127,790 | 110 | 1 | $140,840 | $140,840 |
| Washington | $134,910 | $128,290 | 650 | 2 | $137,890 | $129,180 |
| West Virginia | $134,630 | $129,210 | 160 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Virginia | $133,340 | $136,380 | 790 | 1 | $119,540 | $119,540 |
| Delaware | $131,390 | $133,670 | 370 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Minnesota | $130,240 | $107,670 | 210 | 1 | $141,510 | $141,510 |
| New Jersey | $129,080 | $126,760 | 440 | 1 | $144,720 | $144,720 |
| Idaho | $128,840 | $106,740 | 140 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Maryland | $128,790 | $127,190 | 500 | 1 | $127,240 | $127,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $127,520 | $116,970 | 810 | 3 | $139,050 | $107,820 |
| Montana | $126,310 | $127,490 | 80 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Colorado | $126,060 | $125,800 | 720 | 3 | $127,710 | $123,690 |
| Alabama | $124,470 | $135,030 | 600 | 3 | $128,970 | $108,850 |
| Illinois | $123,570 | $121,560 | 520 | 2 | $121,240 | $108,770 |
| North Carolina | $123,550 | $117,410 | 380 | 3 | $126,210 | $123,830 |
| Kentucky | $122,160 | $117,170 | 190 | 1 | $113,130 | $113,130 |
| Alaska | $121,780 | $106,080 | n/a | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Oregon | $121,660 | $116,950 | 140 | 1 | $135,950 | $135,950 |
| New York | $120,480 | $129,060 | 540 | 4 | $126,720 | $119,480 |
| Missouri | $119,110 | $102,320 | 320 | 2 | $141,730 | $115,280 |
| Ohio | $118,710 | $111,200 | 1,030 | 6 | $139,120 | $113,380 |
| Massachusetts | $118,170 | $118,000 | 1,460 | 3 | $119,270 | $114,600 |
| North Dakota | $117,040 | $115,400 | 80 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Kansas | $115,070 | $102,020 | 280 | 1 | $129,280 | $129,280 |
| Rhode Island | $115,030 | $111,590 | 50 | 1 | $114,490 | $114,490 |
| Indiana | $114,590 | $113,160 | 720 | 3 | $128,250 | $115,420 |
| Connecticut | $114,410 | $102,270 | 410 | 4 | $122,360 | $100,870 |
| Arkansas | $114,140 | $105,270 | 290 | 1 | $103,500 | $103,500 |
| Mississippi | $113,460 | $106,740 | 150 | 1 | $106,750 | $106,750 |
| Florida | $113,080 | $109,000 | 230 | 2 | $115,780 | $109,440 |
| Tennessee | n/a | n/a | 480 | 1 | $112,200 | $112,200 |
| Georgia | $112,180 | $103,880 | 330 | 1 | $114,000 | $114,000 |
| Iowa | $112,070 | $117,590 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Nebraska | $107,760 | $98,310 | 130 | 1 | $113,570 | $113,570 |
| South Carolina | $106,920 | $101,570 | 390 | 2 | $124,420 | $103,830 |
| Michigan | $105,570 | $103,230 | 670 | 5 | $121,350 | $72,680 |
| Wisconsin | $98,440 | $97,660 | 110 | 1 | $99,570 | $99,570 |
| Utah | $96,460 | $85,520 | n/a | 3 | $107,150 | $84,840 |
| New Hampshire | $90,810 | $73,250 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
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Chemical Engineers salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | $155,750 | $138,120 | $74.88 | 1,510 |
| Austin, TX | $149,140 | $129,790 | $71.70 | 60 |
| Dallas, TX | $147,410 | $130,520 | $70.87 | 130 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $144,900 | $136,810 | $69.66 | 100 |
| Trenton, NJ | $144,720 | $135,110 | $69.58 | 40 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $143,640 | $163,380 | $69.06 | 80 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $142,640 | $134,210 | $68.58 | 320 |
| St. Louis, MO | $141,730 | $133,450 | $68.14 | 110 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $141,510 | $122,730 | $68.03 | 170 |
| Tulsa, OK | $140,840 | $127,360 | $67.71 | 50 |
| Beaumont, TX | $139,830 | $129,850 | $67.23 | 140 |
| Toledo, OH | $139,120 | $132,760 | $66.89 | 70 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $139,050 | $152,290 | $66.85 | 110 |
| Kennewick, WA | $137,890 | $130,030 | $66.29 | 320 |
| New Orleans, LA | $137,320 | $136,870 | $66.02 | 190 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $136,220 | $134,800 | $65.49 | 360 |
| Portland, OR | $135,950 | $131,690 | $65.36 | 70 |
| Washington, DC | $135,740 | $132,820 | $65.26 | 640 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $132,960 | $126,690 | $63.92 | 100 |
| Akron, OH | $129,420 | $108,710 | $62.22 | 40 |
| Wichita, KS | $129,280 | $128,780 | $62.15 | n/a |
| Seattle, WA | $129,180 | $125,200 | $62.11 | 230 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $128,970 | $127,770 | $62.01 | 790 |
| Mobile, AL | $128,970 | $137,170 | $62.01 | 150 |
| Evansville, IN | $128,250 | $120,990 | $61.66 | 60 |
| Denver, CO | $127,710 | $128,110 | $61.40 | 410 |
| Baltimore, MD | $127,240 | $128,610 | $61.17 | 180 |
| Boulder, CO | $126,810 | $125,800 | $60.97 | 190 |
| Rochester, NY | $126,720 | $133,740 | $60.92 | n/a |
| Albany, NY | $126,610 | $129,060 | $60.87 | 40 |
| New York, NY | $126,240 | $126,830 | $60.69 | 510 |
| Charlotte, NC | $126,210 | $115,890 | $60.68 | 110 |
| Decatur, AL | $126,170 | $109,160 | $60.66 | 60 |
| Dayton, OH | $125,000 | $123,860 | $60.10 | 50 |
| Durham, NC | $124,680 | $117,440 | $59.94 | 110 |
| Charleston, SC | $124,420 | $129,070 | $59.82 | 50 |
| Raleigh, NC | $123,830 | $111,210 | $59.53 | 90 |
| Fort Collins, CO | $123,690 | $139,220 | $59.46 | 40 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $122,360 | $107,240 | $58.83 | 80 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $121,350 | $114,800 | $58.34 | 100 |
| Chicago, IL | $121,240 | $110,760 | $58.29 | 370 |
| Columbus, OH | $119,970 | $110,860 | $57.68 | 170 |
| Richmond, VA | $119,540 | $117,150 | $57.47 | 60 |
| Buffalo, NY | $119,480 | $112,770 | $57.44 | 70 |
| Springfield, MA | $119,270 | $110,770 | $57.34 | 40 |
| Boston, MA | $117,840 | $109,460 | $56.66 | 910 |
| Hartford, CT | $116,760 | $101,410 | $56.14 | 180 |
| Riverside, CA | $116,630 | $106,200 | $56.07 | n/a |
| Tampa, FL | $115,780 | $110,000 | $55.67 | 30 |
| Columbus, IN | $115,550 | $109,190 | $55.55 | 40 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $115,420 | $118,010 | $55.49 | n/a |
| Kansas City, MO | $115,280 | $102,320 | $55.42 | 380 |
| Cleveland, OH | $115,210 | $108,350 | $55.39 | 240 |
| Worcester, MA | $114,600 | $104,060 | $55.10 | 260 |
| Providence, RI | $114,490 | $106,950 | $55.04 | 80 |
| Atlanta, GA | $114,000 | $103,520 | $54.81 | 230 |
| Omaha, NE | $113,570 | $98,480 | $54.60 | 90 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $113,380 | $107,610 | $54.51 | 300 |
| Louisville, KY | $113,130 | $110,960 | $54.39 | 40 |
| New Haven, CT | $112,880 | $102,850 | $54.27 | 60 |
| Memphis, TN | $112,200 | $108,570 | $53.94 | 30 |
| Miami, FL | $109,440 | $111,980 | $52.62 | 50 |
| Detroit, MI | $109,400 | $104,230 | $52.60 | 220 |
| Huntsville, AL | $108,850 | $101,480 | $52.33 | 60 |
| Peoria, IL | $108,770 | $111,880 | $52.30 | 30 |
| Reading, PA | $107,820 | $100,190 | $51.84 | 50 |
| Ogden, UT | $107,150 | $98,090 | $51.52 | 80 |
| Gulfport, MS | $106,750 | $98,350 | $51.32 | 40 |
| Greenville, SC | $103,830 | $86,820 | $49.92 | 60 |
| Little Rock, AR | $103,500 | $102,590 | $49.76 | 60 |
| Norwich, CT | $100,870 | $101,750 | $48.50 | 50 |
| Madison, WI | $99,570 | $97,190 | $47.87 | n/a |
| Kalamazoo, MI | $99,170 | $96,190 | $47.68 | 50 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $98,590 | $85,520 | $47.40 | n/a |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $91,550 | $78,660 | $44.02 | 50 |
| Provo, UT | $84,840 | $81,840 | $40.79 | 90 |
| Lansing, MI | $72,680 | $66,230 | $34.94 | 50 |
Related jobs
- Civil EngineersU.S. average $108,670
- Electrical EngineersU.S. average $125,100
- Industrial EngineersU.S. average $109,900
- Mechanical EngineersU.S. average $113,610
- Engineers, All OtherU.S. average $125,330
- Aerospace EngineersU.S. average $142,060
- Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerU.S. average $137,280
- Environmental EngineersU.S. average $112,910
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Chemical Engineers salary: questions
Where do chemical engineers make the most money?
In Houston, TX, with an average of $155,750 a year, among the 77 metro areas we cover.
What is the average chemical engineers salary in the U.S.?
$129,980 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $125,040, so half of chemical engineers earn more than that and half less.
What salary should chemical engineers ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of chemical engineers nationwide earn between $97,820 (25th percentile) and $157,190 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays chemical engineers the most?
New Mexico, with a statewide average of $147,420 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is chemical engineers pay the lowest?
Lansing, MI, at $72,680 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2041.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.