Best cities for a chemical engineer
The best cities for chemical engineers are Houston, TX, Corpus Christi, TX, and Garland, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for chemical engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for chemical engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a chemical engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for chemical engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for chemical engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a chemical engineer. While the absolute best city for chemical engineers is Houston, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for chemical engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a chemical engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for chemical engineers in 2025
1. Houston, TX
Total chemical engineer jobs: 207 Average annual salary: $114,179 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location quotient: 22.42 2. Corpus Christi, TX
Total chemical engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $116,802 Lowest 10 percent warn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location quotient: 9.52 3. Garland, TX
Total chemical engineer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $108,948 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 14.70 4. Tulsa, OK
Total chemical engineer jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $99,406 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 7.94 5. New Orleans, LA
Total chemical engineer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $101,723 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location quotient: 4.15 6. Plano, TX
Total chemical engineer jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $108,586 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 2.48 7. Durham, NC
Total chemical engineer jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $86,290 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 2.67 8. Austin, TX
Total chemical engineer jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $113,434 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location quotient: 1.55 9. Saint Paul, MN
Total chemical engineer jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $89,253 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 3.12 10. Kansas City, MO
Total chemical engineer jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $84,702 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location quotient: 4.61
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Best cities for chemical engineers
- Houston, TX
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Garland, TX
- Tulsa, OK
- New Orleans, LA
- Plano, TX
- Durham, NC
- Austin, TX
- Saint Paul, MN
- Kansas City, MO
- (207 chemical engineer jobs)
- (4 chemical engineer jobs)
- (5 chemical engineer jobs)
- (14 chemical engineer jobs)
- (7 chemical engineer jobs)
- (15 chemical engineer jobs)
- (8 chemical engineer jobs)
- (19 chemical engineer jobs)
- (11 chemical engineer jobs)
- (18 chemical engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a chemical engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $114,179 | $83,000 | 2,303,482 | 207 |
| 2 | Corpus Christi, TX | $116,802 | $86,000 | 325,733 | 4 |
| 3 | Garland, TX | $108,948 | $77,000 | 234,943 | 5 |
| 4 | Tulsa, OK | $99,406 | $70,000 | 403,090 | 14 |
| 5 | New Orleans, LA | $101,723 | $74,000 | 391,495 | 7 |
| 6 | Plano, TX | $108,586 | $77,000 | 286,057 | 15 |
| 7 | Durham, NC | $86,290 | $62,000 | 263,016 | 8 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $113,434 | $81,000 | 947,890 | 19 |
| 9 | Saint Paul, MN | $89,253 | $61,000 | 302,398 | 11 |
| 10 | Kansas City, MO | $84,702 | $59,000 | 481,420 | 18 |
| 11 | Fort Wayne, IN | $78,180 | $54,000 | 264,488 | 6 |
| 12 | Raleigh, NC | $86,569 | $62,000 | 458,880 | 6 |
| 13 | Oklahoma City, OK | $101,832 | $72,000 | 638,367 | 5 |
| 14 | San Antonio, TX | $114,550 | $83,000 | 1,492,510 | 4 |
| 15 | Albuquerque, NM | $108,021 | $76,000 | 559,277 | 3 |
| 16 | Miami, FL | $85,973 | $68,000 | 453,579 | 12 |
| 17 | Newark, NJ | $91,372 | $63,000 | 281,764 | 7 |
| 18 | Winston-Salem, NC | $84,913 | $61,000 | 242,203 | 1 |
| 19 | Dallas, TX | $109,456 | $78,000 | 1,317,929 | 7 |
| 20 | Irving, TX | $109,304 | $77,000 | 238,289 | 4 |
| 21 | Laredo, TX | $116,982 | $86,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 22 | Greensboro, NC | $85,364 | $61,000 | 287,027 | 1 |
| 23 | Pittsburgh, PA | $74,447 | $51,000 | 303,625 | 27 |
| 24 | Nashville, TN | $84,094 | $60,000 | 660,388 | 3 |
| 25 | Bakersfield, CA | $90,812 | $63,000 | 376,380 | 16 |
| 26 | Reno, NV | $77,508 | $53,000 | 245,255 | 4 |
| 27 | Arlington, TX | $109,700 | $78,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 28 | Memphis, TN | $84,986 | $60,000 | 652,717 | 2 |
| 29 | El Paso, TX | $111,783 | $79,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 30 | Fort Worth, TX | $109,664 | $78,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 31 | Lubbock, TX | $109,254 | $77,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 32 | Boston, MA | $91,770 | $63,000 | 673,184 | 9 |
| 33 | Charlotte, NC | $85,087 | $61,000 | 842,051 | 6 |
| 34 | Scottsdale, AZ | $82,340 | $58,000 | 246,645 | 3 |
| 35 | Indianapolis, IN | $76,578 | $53,000 | 855,164 | 9 |
| 36 | Henderson, NV | $76,041 | $52,000 | 292,969 | 1 |
| 37 | Fremont, CA | $92,608 | $64,000 | 233,136 | 12 |
| 38 | Lincoln, NE | $73,819 | $51,000 | 280,364 | 6 |
| 39 | Santa Ana, CA | $88,909 | $62,000 | 334,217 | 6 |
| 40 | Washington, DC | $97,482 | $68,000 | 681,170 | 22 |
| 41 | Detroit, MI | $77,040 | $53,000 | 672,795 | 4 |
| 42 | Saint Louis, MO | $86,326 | $60,000 | 311,404 | 3 |
| 43 | Brookhaven, NY | $79,436 | $55,000 | 486,040 | 4 |
| 44 | Sacramento, CA | $91,876 | $63,000 | 495,234 | 9 |
| 45 | Virginia Beach, VA | $96,046 | $68,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 46 | Minneapolis, MN | $89,189 | $61,000 | 413,651 | 1 |
| 47 | Phoenix, AZ | $82,430 | $58,000 | 1,615,017 | 9 |
| 48 | Cincinnati, OH | $73,846 | $52,000 | 298,800 | 4 |
| 49 | Norfolk, VA | $95,764 | $68,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 50 | Jersey City, NJ | $91,437 | $63,000 | 264,152 | 5 |
Highest paying cities for chemical engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. chemical engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sugar Land, TX | $114,407 |
| 2 | Baton Rouge, LA | $101,224 |
| 3 | Tulsa, OK | $99,406 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $97,482 |
| 5 | Reston, VA | $94,974 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $92,883 |
| 7 | Cambridge, MA | $91,698 |
| 8 | Newark, NJ | $91,372 |
| 9 | Saint Paul, MN | $89,253 |
| 10 | Miami, FL | $85,973 |
| 11 | Kingsport, TN | $85,458 |
| 12 | Richland, WA | $85,420 |
| 13 | Kansas City, MO | $84,702 |
| 14 | New York, NY | $79,096 |
| 15 | Akron, OH | $77,821 |
| 16 | Allentown, PA | $76,962 |
| 17 | Des Plaines, IL | $75,605 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $75,569 |
| 19 | Newark, DE | $72,165 |
| 20 | Salt Lake City, UT | $67,153 |
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Updated January 8, 2025