Chemical Engineering - Starting Salaries

In 2006, the Department of Chemical Engineering at Princeton cited chemical engineering as the degree that offered the highest starting salaries to recent graduates. In the field of chemical engineering, starting salaries may be high compared to, say, the Salary of a Health and Safety Engineer, but that doesn't mean that a chemical engineer should blithely enter the workforce, expecting engineering starting salaries to automatically be high, without first researching salary survey data. As PayScale's chemical engineering salary data shows, the typical engineering salary range varies depending on numerous factors; what is considered a high chemical engineer salary in some circumstances may be lower than the median in others. The Chemical Engineering Starting Salaries chart above shows only a small salary increase in the first few years, but, after the five-year mark, salaries increase steadily. However, a novice engineer can't magically produce five years of experience in order to earn a higher chemical engineer salary. Researching salary survey data beyond engineering starting salaries will provide more of a complete picture.

Chemical Engineering Salary Data

Location is often a big influence on a person's salary, and engineering salaries are no different. The Chemical Engineering Salary by City and Chemical Engineering Salary by State charts both point to Texas as scoring high on the chemical engineer salary survey. However, when considering the influence that location may have on engineering salaries, it's important to also factor in cost of living data. Check out the Cost of Living in Houston, Texas for a better idea of how far chemical engineering starting salaries might go. Chemical engineering is a field that doesn't necessarily require an advanced degree, but measuring Chemical Engineering Salary by Degree shows that earning a higher degree can significantly increase a chemical engineering salary. If you're not interested in investing the time or money in further education, you're still in luck - chemical engineering is at the top of PayScale's list of Best Undergrad Degrees by Salary. While all engineering majors rank well, chemical engineering starting salaries and mid-career salaries are higher than the salary ranges listed for most other majors.