Chemical engineer
Chemical engineers design and run the processes that turn raw materials into useful products such as fuels, medicines, plastics, food, fertilisers and clean water.
What can you do with a chemical engineering degree?
Also called: Process engineering · Chemical and process engineering · Chemical and biomolecular engineering · Biochemical engineering
Updated How we use data
Quick answer
A chemical engineering degree teaches how to turn raw materials into useful products on a large scale, safely and efficiently, using chemistry, physics, mathematics and biology. Graduates design and run the processes that make fuels, medicines, food, plastics and clean water. Most become chemical or process engineers, while others work in environmental engineering, food science, energy or consulting.
Careers with a chemical engineering degree
Most graduates become chemical or process engineers in energy, pharmaceuticals, food and drink, chemicals, water treatment and manufacturing. Some become environmental engineers, reducing pollution, treating waste or designing cleaner processes, and others work as food scientists or chemists in product development. The strong problem-solving skills of chemical engineers are also valued in consulting, finance, patent work and data analysis. Newer areas include batteries, hydrogen, carbon capture and biotechnology.
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Environmental engineer
Environmental engineers design systems that protect people and nature from pollution, such as drinking water and wastewater treatment, air pollution control, waste and recycling facilities, and the clean-up of contaminated land.
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Food scientist
Food scientists study the chemistry, biology and physics of food and use that knowledge to develop new products, improve recipes, and keep food safe, nutritious and long-lasting.
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Chemist
Chemists study substances and how they react, and use that knowledge to create and test new materials, medicines, fuels, foods and consumer products.
Other roles graduates go into: Process safety engineer · Energy engineer · Water treatment engineer · Production manager · Technical sales engineer · Patent attorney
What you study and the skills you gain
Typical topics
- Mass and energy balances
- Thermodynamics
- Fluid mechanics and heat transfer
- Reaction engineering
- Separation processes
- Process control and safety
- Process design and economics
- Biochemical and environmental engineering
Skills you gain
- Applying chemistry, physics and mathematics to industrial processes
- Modelling and simulating processes with software
- Assessing and managing safety and environmental risks
- Solving problems when information is incomplete
- Working in teams with engineers and scientists from other fields
- Writing technical reports and design specifications
How the degree differs around the world
In the United States, Canada and much of Asia, chemical engineering is typically a four-year bachelor's degree, and in parts of Latin America it can take five years. In the UK, students choose a three- or four-year bachelor's or an integrated master's that lasts a year longer and is a common path towards chartered status. Much of Europe uses a three-year bachelor's followed by a two-year master's, and the master's is often the normal level for working engineers. Entry usually requires chemistry and mathematics, often with physics. Accreditation by a national engineering body helps with professional registration or licensing later.
How do chemical engineering graduates do?
Earnings and employment by country
The OECD compares graduates by field of study. This subject falls under “Engineering, manufacturing and construction”. The first column compares the median earnings of tertiary-educated adults in this field with all tertiary-educated adults (100 = average).
| Country | Earnings index (all graduates = 100) | Employment rate, this field | Employment rate, all graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 122 (2023) | 87.7% (2017) | 84.3% |
| United Kingdom | 122 (2020) | 86.8% (2021) | 84.6% |
| Germany | 120 (2020) | 90.2% (2024) | 88.7% |
| Chile | 120 (2023) | 85.0% (2022) | 85.7% |
| Norway | 119 (2023) | 91.9% (2024) | 89.3% |
| Finland | 116 (2022) | 89.7% (2024) | 88.8% |
| Sweden | 112 (2023) | 91.6% (2024) | 89.6% |
| Australia | 110 (2020) | 90.7% (2024) | 88.4% |
| Denmark | 110 (2023) | 90.0% (2021) | 87.8% |
| South Korea | 110 (2023) | — | — |
| Canada | 109 (2020) | 82.6% (2021) | 80.4% |
| Portugal | 108 (2020) | 92.1% (2024) | 90.7% |
| Romania | 106 (2023) | 90.4% (2024) | 91.5% |
| Mexico | 106 (2023) | 84.6% (2024) | 81.5% |
| Latvia | 105 (2023) | 89.3% (2024) | 87.7% |
| Slovenia | 104 (2020) | 93.6% (2024) | 90.8% |
| Austria | 100 (2023) | 87.7% (2024) | 86.4% |
| Costa Rica | 100 (2023) | 83.2% (2024) | 79.2% |
| Switzerland | 98 (2023) | 92.7% (2024) | 89.5% |
| Luxembourg | 97 (2023) | 80.1% (2024) | 85.7% |
| Estonia | 95 (2023) | 89.6% (2024) | 89.2% |
| Ireland | — | 94.7% (2021) | 86.9% |
| Poland | — | 94.0% (2024) | 91.6% |
| Czechia | — | 93.3% (2024) | 88.4% |
| Belgium | — | 92.9% (2024) | 88.5% |
| Iceland | — | 92.9% (2016) | 93.6% |
| Croatia | — | 92.0% (2024) | 89.7% |
| Netherlands | — | 91.5% (2024) | 90.6% |
| France | — | 91.4% (2024) | 87.3% |
| Slovakia | — | 91.4% (2024) | 90.5% |
| Italy | — | 88.5% (2024) | 84.7% |
| Lithuania | — | 88.2% (2024) | 90.4% |
| Peru | — | 87.9% (2024) | 81.7% |
| Greece | — | 87.8% (2024) | 82.3% |
| Spain | — | 86.5% (2024) | 83.9% |
| Türkiye | — | 78.4% (2016) | 72.9% |
| Hungary | — | 73.7% (2024) | 76.2% |
Source: OECD, Education at a Glance. Adults aged 25–64 with tertiary education; latest year available, full-time earners where published. Values are for the whole field of study, not this subject alone.
Graduate earnings in the UK
The UK government links tax records to university records to measure what graduates earn. These figures are for “Chemical, process and energy engineering” first-degree graduates who were employed in the 2023–24 tax year.
| Time since graduating | Median | Lower quartile | Upper quartile | In work or study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| After 1 year | £32,200 | £27,100 | £37,700 | 90.0% |
| After 3 years | £39,900 | £32,600 | £48,700 | 90.1% |
| After 5 years | £47,600 | £38,400 | £60,000 | 89.3% |
| After 10 years | £57,800 | £39,500 | £76,100 | 80.1% |
Source: UK Department for Education, Graduate labour market outcomes (LEO), tax year 2023–24. Earnings are annual and include only graduates in sustained employment.
Is a chemical engineering degree right for you?
It may suit you if
- You enjoy chemistry but want to use it to solve large, practical problems.
- You are strong at mathematics and like working with models and numbers.
- You want to work on challenges such as clean energy, medicines or safe water.
Think twice if
- You want to do laboratory chemistry, as the degree is mostly engineering and mathematics.
- You find advanced mathematics and physics very difficult.
- You do not want to work on industrial sites, which can be in remote places or involve shift work.
Further study
Many graduates go straight into industry and work towards professional registration, which usually needs an accredited degree and several years of experience. A master's degree helps for specialist areas such as biochemical engineering, energy, process safety or sustainability, and in some countries it is the normal level for engineers. A PhD leads to research in universities and industry. Some engineers later take an MBA to move into management.
Questions about studying chemical engineering
What jobs can you get with a chemical engineering degree?
Most graduates become chemical or process engineers in energy, pharmaceuticals, food and drink, chemicals, water and manufacturing. Others become environmental engineers, process safety engineers, food scientists, chemists or production managers. Chemical engineers are also hired in consulting, finance, patent law and data analysis because of their strong problem-solving and mathematical skills.
What is the difference between chemistry and chemical engineering?
Chemistry studies substances and reactions, usually in the laboratory, to understand how and why they happen. Chemical engineering uses that knowledge to design, build and run processes that make products on an industrial scale, safely and at a reasonable cost. Chemical engineering includes much more mathematics, physics and design work, and less time doing laboratory experiments.
Is chemical engineering a hard degree?
Yes, it is usually considered one of the most demanding engineering degrees. It combines advanced mathematics, physics and chemistry, and topics such as thermodynamics take time to understand. Students who practise problems regularly and enjoy connecting theory with real processes usually succeed, and design projects in the later years bring the subjects together.
Do chemical engineers only work in oil and gas?
No. Energy is still a major employer, but chemical engineers also work in pharmaceuticals, food and drink, water treatment, plastics, cosmetics, semiconductors and waste management. Newer areas include batteries, hydrogen, carbon capture and biotechnology. The same process skills are useful in any industry that turns raw materials into products.
Related subjects
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Chemistry
A chemistry degree teaches how substances are built, how they react and how to make and analyse new materials, through theory and a lot of laboratory work.
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Mechanical engineering
A mechanical engineering degree teaches how to design, analyse and make machines and systems that move or use energy, from engines and robots to medical devices and power plants.
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Environmental science
An environmental science degree studies how the natural world works and how human activity affects air, water, soil, wildlife and climate.
Sources
- OECD — Education at a Glance, labour-market outcomes — Earnings and employment by field of study, adults 25–64
- UK Department for Education — Graduate labour market outcomes (LEO) — CAH CAH10-01-09 — Chemical, process and energy engineering
- UNESCO — ISCED-F 2013 — ISCED-F 0711
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). What can you do with a chemical engineering degree? Jobs and salaries. https://coursetojob.com/subjects/chemical-engineering/ (accessed September 26, 2026)