Chemical Engineers

What Chemical Engineers Do

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.

Career Outlook

National employment outlook, 2024–2034.

Related work experience

None

On-the-job training

None

Self-employed

5.1%

Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.

Key Knowledge Areas

Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.

• Engineering and Technologyimportance 4.8/5
• Chemistryimportance 4.7/5
• Mathematicsimportance 4.3/5
• Designimportance 4.0/5
• Physicsimportance 4.0/5
• Production and Processingimportance 4.0/5
• English Languageimportance 3.7/5
• Computers and Electronicsimportance 3.2/5

Work Environment

What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.

• E-Mail5.0/5
• Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.8/5
• Indoors, Environmentally Controlled4.8/5
• Telephone Conversations4.5/5
• Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team4.3/5
• Health and Safety of Other Workers4.1/5

Related Careers

• Materials Engineers
• Industrial Engineers
• Materials Scientists
• Chemists
• Architectural and Engineering Managers
• Petroleum Engineers
• Mechanical Engineers
• Nuclear Engineers

Careers With Similar Skills

Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.

• Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers93% skill match
• Nuclear Engineers92% skill match
• Mechanical Engineers91% skill match
• Materials Engineers90% skill match
• Aerospace Engineers90% skill match
• Computer Systems Analysts89% skill match
• Mechanical Drafters89% skill match
• Agricultural Engineers89% skill match

Transferable Skills

Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.

• Complex Problem Solvingimportance 4.0/5
• Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.9/5
• Systems Analysisimportance 3.9/5
• Systems Evaluationimportance 3.9/5
• Operations Analysisimportance 3.6/5
• Social Perceptivenessimportance 3.0/5
• Coordinationimportance 3.0/5
• Instructingimportance 3.0/5

Software & Technologies

Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.

Work Style

Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.

• Attention to Detail
• Cautiousness
• Dependability
• Innovation
• Intellectual Curiosity
• Achievement Orientation
• Integrity

Career Interests

This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.

• RealisticHigh
• InvestigativeHigh
• ConventionalMedium
• EnterprisingLow
• ArtisticLow
• SocialLow

Where This Career Is Most Concentrated

Metro areas where chemical engineers make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).

1. 1Kennewick-Richland, WA18.03× national avg
2. 2Boulder, CO7.35× national avg
3. 3Decatur, AL7.25× national avg
4. 4Lake Charles, LA7.16× national avg
5. 5Baton Rouge, LA6.50× national avg

Possible Career Moves

A computed starting point, not observed job-change data — see the full list for why each one might fit.

• Materials EngineersLateral Move
• Materials ScientistsCareer Change
• Nuclear EngineersLateral Move
• Mechanical EngineersLateral Move

See the full career path from Chemical Engineers →

Related Education Programs

Schools that offer related fields of study, based on the NCES CIP-SOC crosswalk — not a guarantee that graduates enter this specific career.