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Job outlook for chemical engineers in the United States
Chemical engineer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected chemical engineer job growth rate is 14% from 2018-2028.
About 3,700 new jobs for chemical engineers are projected over the next decade.
Chemical engineer salaries have increased 10% for chemical engineers in the last 5 years.
There are over 16,138 chemical engineers currently employed in the United States.
There are 42,176 active chemical engineer job openings in the US.
The average chemical engineer salary is $89,449.
Are chemical engineer jobs in demand?
Chemical engineer job and salary trends over time
Chemical engineer jobs over time
Chemical engineer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,138 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 17,199 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 20,103 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 21,398 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 22,359 | 0.01% |
Average chemical engineer salary over time
Chemical engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $89,449 | $43.00 | --0.2% |
| 2024 | $89,638 | $43.10 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $86,457 | $41.57 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $84,191 | $40.48 | +3.9% |
| 2021 | $81,043 | $38.96 | +1.0% |
Chemical engineer jobs by state
Most common states for chemical engineers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 228 | 33% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,201 | 18% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 158 | 16% |
| 4 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,084 | 13% |
| 5 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 723 | 13% |
| 6 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 169 | 13% |
| 7 | California | 39,536,653 | 4,706 | 12% |
| 8 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 753 | 12% |
| 9 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 681 | 12% |
| 10 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 831 | 11% |
| 11 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 468 | 11% |
| 12 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 352 | 11% |
| 13 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 312 | 10% |
| 14 | Vermont | 623,657 | 62 | 10% |
| 15 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 912 | 9% |
| 16 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 658 | 9% |
| 17 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 628 | 9% |
| 18 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 440 | 9% |
| 19 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 157 | 9% |
| 20 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 69 | 9% |
Most common cities for chemical engineers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Plainfield | 2 | 8% | $91,338 |
| 2 | Des Plaines | 4 | 7% | $75,605 |
| 3 | Benicia | 1 | 4% | $92,590 |
| 4 | Annapolis | 1 | 3% | $97,170 |
| 5 | Beverly | 1 | 2% | $91,661 |
| 6 | Baton Rouge | 2 | 1% | $101,224 |
| 7 | Hawthorne | 1 | 1% | $89,360 |
| 8 | Lake Charles | 1 | 1% | $101,585 |
| 9 | Lansing | 1 | 1% | $76,084 |
| 10 | Atlanta | 2 | 0% | $75,569 |
| 11 | Chicago | 2 | 0% | $75,599 |
| 12 | Denver | 2 | 0% | $74,102 |
| 13 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $97,101 |
| 14 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $91,770 |
Chemical Engineer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of chemical engineer experts
Manhattan College
University of New Mexico
San Jose State University
Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Oklahoma State University
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Tuskegee University
Arizona State University
Missouri University of Science & Technology
North Dakota State University
Augusta University
Hampton University
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Wichita State University
Stonehill College
The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga
Lincoln University of Missouri
Lipscomb University
West Virginia State University
What general advice would you give to a Chemical Engineer?
Richard Carbonaro Ph.D., P.E.: At the start of your career, there is a range of starting salaries for 'entry-level' chemical engineers. However, some sectors within chemical engineering such as petrochemicals and energy tend to be on the higher end of this range. Do the proper research to find the sector that is the right fit for you both in terms of compensation and work that you will enjoy. Once you are working in the industry, you can increase your salary more quickly by acquiring an advanced degree such as a Master's or getting additional training through certificate programs. Be aware of the opportunities for additional training at your company and through professional organizations such as American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChe). Demonstrate to your supervisors that you are willing to learn, work hard, and be efficient to increase the chances of getting promotions and merit-based wage increases.
What Chemical Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Richard Carbonaro Ph.D., P.E.: The field of chemical engineering has always been evolving and expanding beyond the traditional oil and gas industry where it got its start in the late 1800's. I expect that it will continue to do so. The future of our field will likely put a greater emphasis on green chemistry and sustainability (i.e. energy efficiency, renewable energy and energy storage), and biotechnologies (i.e. biosynthesis of small molecules, production of biomaterials). With the development and availability of AI, additional work is needed to figure out how to apply it to chemical engineering problems. It has great potential to help us optimize chemical processes and provide assistance in the design process.
What will help Chemical Engineers increase their earning potential?
Richard Carbonaro Ph.D., P.E.: The transition from university to the workforce can be daunting. The first month or two may be difficult, so anticipate challenges. Trust that your training in chemical engineering has provided you the knowledge you need to succeed. But, expect to learn a lot of job-specific skills that you were never taught in school.
What general advice would you give to a Chemical Engineer?
Jamie Gomez: Chemical engineers are instrumental in designing processes that produce a wide array of products across industries such as pharmaceuticals, energy, food and beverages, and materials science. They engage in both research and development (R&D;) to innovate new products and applied engineering to refine existing processes. By leveraging data analysis software and machine learning, they enhance efficiency and validate processes through advanced modeling. They also ensure safety and regulatory compliance using cutting-edge monitoring systems and predictive analytics. Collaborating with cross-functional teams, chemical engineers foster innovation, embrace diverse perspectives, and solve complex problems effectively. For those new to the field, the initial focus is on comprehensive training and learning, often guided by experienced engineers. New chemical engineers support senior engineers with data collection, preliminary analysis, and documentation, gaining invaluable hands-on experience with laboratory equipment and industrial processes. This foundational experience is crucial for honing essential skills such as process design, data analysis, project management, teamwork, and effective communication with diverse audiences, all of which are applicable to any project in their career.
What Chemical Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jamie Gomez: Chemical engineering is a compelling field to enter now because of its critical role in advancing renewable energy and promoting the green economy. Chemical engineers lead the charge in developing sustainable technologies, such as green ammonia for eco-friendly fertilizers and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) to reduce the aviation industry's carbon footprint. They are key players in driving innovations toward achieving net-zero carbon emissions, working on projects that minimize environmental impact and champion sustainable industrial practices. It is a profession that offers substantial opportunities to make a positive impact on both the environment and society.
What will help Chemical Engineers increase their earning potential?
Jamie Gomez: Chemical engineers thrive on tackling complex problems and embracing diverse projects, which offer ample opportunities for innovation and career growth. Their work profoundly impacts society, particularly in advancing sustainable technologies. However, the profession can be demanding, with high workloads, regulatory hurdles, and safety challenges. Ethical considerations must also be carefully balanced with industrial growth. Senior chemical engineering students transitioning from capstone design projects often find the experience stressful but invaluable. These projects mirror real-world engineering scenarios and equip them with practical skills like problem-solving, collaboration, innovation, and adaptability. Additionally, they gain an understanding of the economic aspects of engineering projects, learning to assess cost-effectiveness and financial feasibility. These competencies are crucial for career success, offering versatility and a wide range of professional opportunities.
What general advice would you give to a Chemical Engineer?
J. Richard Elliott Professor Emeritus: The lovely thing about deciding to major in chemical engineering is that it is the “undecision.” Chemical engineering degree-holders can be (patent) lawyers, doctors (it has the highest admission RATE of any major), petroleum producers and refiners, corrosion specialists, polymer processors, cancer researchers, machine learning engineers for additive manufacturing (3D printing), computer chipmakers, cancer researchers, CEOs, professors, wastewater bioengineers, food engineers, ... There are probably many more but this is just off the top of my head. About the admission RATE to med school, CHEs don’t apply if they aren’t pretty sure they’ll get in because they have so many other options. The RATE is the fraction of those who apply who get in. About 45% of Biomed engineers go to med school and 45% go to grad school. The number of Biomeds may be more, but their RATE is only ~50%. Running petroleum refineries (for gasoline, Exxon, BP, Shell…) and chemical production plants (for ethylene, ethanol-gasohol, … Dow, Dupont, BASF, Lubrizol…) are probably the most obvious careers, but they represent maybe only 50% of where CHEs go nowadays. Many UA CHEs get the corrosion specialization and work for oil companies but also work for the Dept of Defense. There was a glut of CHEs in the early 80s when Reagan shut down Carter’s clean fuel initiative. That glut sent CHEs scurrying into many fields and they have kept their fingers in all these pies. In Akron Ohio, polymer companies like PolyOne, Goodyear (and other tire companies), AL Shulman, ... pick up about 25% of UAs graduates. Smucker’s in Orrville also picks up a steady number who become food engineers. My wife started with BP in tertiary oil recovery (briefly, using “soap” to wash the oil of rocks deep in the ground). Then she worked with Ferro to develop a smart washing machine that would synthesize peroxide bleach on the spot. Then she worked for a company that makes non-skid strips for showers and stairs and skateboards. She ended her career working for the largest bottle-grade polyester company in the world, trying to solve the polyester recycle problem. My oldest daughter did her PhD-CHE developing a diagnostic for pre-eclampsia that cut false positives in half. Her post-doc was focused on auto-immune diseases and now she works in the front office of a CA “unicorn” as the associate director of business development. My younger daughter started her career exploring arthritis as an auto-immune disease then she worked for Caribou (one of Doudna’s startups) working on allogeneic CAR T-cell technology using CRISPR-CAS9. Then she worked on similar cancer treatments with natural killer cells and autologous CAR T-cell therapy. My son-in-law is a PhD CHE working on machine learning at LLNL (he met my older daughter in grad school). Computer chips are manufactured by a process involving chemical vapor deposition, polymeric photoresists, and chemical etching; all are chemical engineering processes. Gordon Moore of “Moore’s law” was a CHE. Many CEOs of companies like Exxon, Dow, etc have been CHEs. One of my best (CHE) friends has developed a process to enhance wastewater treatment to perform 5x more treatment in the same volume. The digestion of sewage involves bacteria, making It more properly a biochemical engineering problem, not a civil engineering problem.
What Chemical Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
J. Richard Elliott Professor Emeritus: It’s always a good time to major in CHE because the broad background makes it feasible to pivot into whatever field is in demand when you expect to graduate.
What will help Chemical Engineers increase their earning potential?
J. Richard Elliott Professor Emeritus: Of course, the salary is always near the top of engineering majors so that’s easy to like. Opportunities for co-op/intern study are also attractive. My oldest daughter chose it because she couldn't be sure about biology or bio-CHE. By choosing the “undecision,” she got the best of all worlds and landed right where she wanted. The downside is that it really is a lot of work. Just the regular major suffices to get a minor in chemistry and a minor in math. If you do the bio-specialization too, it’s almost like a quadruple major. It’s not for the faint of heart. And when you’re done, you’re likely to use only about 10% of what you learned in earning the degree. The problem is that it’s a different 10% for every graduate.
What general advice would you give to a Chemical Engineer?
Christopher Lew: Chemical engineers work on a variety of tasks such as process design, energy innovation, green chemistry, circular economy, environmental engineering, materials science, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, biomedical engineering, data science, computational fluid dynamics, molecular modeling, and hazard analysis and risk assessment. They address complex challenges across industries and contribute to technological advancements and sustainability efforts.
What Chemical Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Christopher Lew: Chemical engineering is a multidisciplinary, technology-driven field that offers a broad set of skills and knowledge. Graduates have many career opportunities to choose from in various industries. The profession is dynamic, well-compensated, and allows for success and growth.
What will help Chemical Engineers increase their earning potential?
Christopher Lew: People like the broad range of career opportunities, the ability to address complex challenges, and the potential for success and growth in various fields. Dislikes may include the complexity of the field and the varied responsibilities that require a unique way of thinking and problem-solving.
What general advice would you give to a Chemical Engineer?
Martin Sentmanat Ph.D.: Because of the highly versatile toolbox of skills that Chemical Engineers are inherently equipped with, they are capable of developing game-changing technologies at scales that will impact societies around the planet. For example, when it comes to sustainability, over the past few years, the largest polymer manufacturers have been investing heavily in developing advanced recycling technologies with the goal of making the polymer industry a more circular economy.
What Chemical Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Martin Sentmanat Ph.D.: My basic advice to students is to keep their options open and to be as adaptable as possible. Because of the breadth and depth of technical acumen that is acquired during their academic formation, Chemical Engineers are represented in a broad spectrum of industries from management consulting to semiconductors to energy and just about every industry in between. As a matter of fact, our students often have more than one job offer when it comes time for graduation.
What will help Chemical Engineers increase their earning potential?
Martin Sentmanat Ph.D.: My best advice for students looking to maximize their salary potential is to focus on two key attributes: 1) work experience, and 2) communication skills. Students that have work experience from engineering internships tend to have the easiest time landing offers for permanent positions upon graduation.
What general advice would you give to a Chemical Engineer?
Roger Tiemann: The careers available to Chemistry degree holders are wide and vast. They can run the gamut from teaching, water treatment, pharmacologist, geochemist, materials scientist, forensic scientist, oceanographer, chemical technician to chemical engineer. There are other career paths for chemistry grads, too. Such careers include accountant, actuarial sciences, policy makers, and consultants. They can expect to earn anywhere from $34,000.00 a year to $100,000.00 per year upon obtaining an undergraduate degree. As always, the potential to earn more is directly related to the higher your education and we encourage more people to pursue a PhD or Masters in Chemistry.
Kimberly Henthorn
Department Head & Associate ProfessorRose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Department of Chemical Engineering
What skills stand out on Chemical Engineer resumes?
Kimberly Henthorn: All chemical engineers must be excellent at math and problem solving, but in today’s world, having experience with programming, data analytics, or statistics will really strengthen your resume.
What soft skills should all Chemical Engineers possess?
Kimberly Henthorn: Being good at the technical stuff is important, but being able to effectively communicate is just as critical. Both oral and written communication skills are necessary in order to explain to others what your work means. You also have to be able to work with a team; chemical engineers rarely work alone, so knowing how to work with people in other disciplines to get the job done is important.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Chemical Engineers?
Kimberly Henthorn: Math and problem solving is at the heart of being a good chemical engineer.
What skills will help Chemical Engineers earn the most?
Kimberly Henthorn: I think being well-rounded is more important than being really good at just one thing. Showing that you are good at academics is only one element of being a good employee. You have to be good at communication, be personable, have a curious and creative mind, and work well in a team. Being involved in leadership opportunities and extracurriculars (both at school/work and in the community) are a great way to show well-roundedness.
Dr. Michael Curry Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Chemistry, Adjunct Associate Professor of MSE,, Affiliate Member of The Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, and Founder/CEO of Eco-friendly Plastic Materials, LLCTuskegee University
Chemistry, and Material Science Engineering Faculty
What skills stand out on Chemical Engineer resumes?
Dr. Michael Curry Ph.D.: -Able to work in team environments
-Excellent critical thinker
-Able to make critical data evaluations and interpretations and process adjustments
-Strong background in chemical processes
-Excellent communicator (writing, talking, reading)
-Strong problem-solving capabilities
-Excellent project manager
-Independent thinker
-Self-starter
What soft skills should all Chemical Engineers possess?
Dr. Michael Curry Ph.D.: Excellent critical thinker.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Chemical Engineers?
Dr. Michael Curry Ph.D.: Strong background in chemical processes.
What skills will help Chemical Engineers earn the most?
Dr. Michael Curry Ph.D.: Able to make critical data evaluations and interpretations and process adjustments.
David Nielsen Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorArizona State University
School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy
What skills stand out on Chemical Engineer resumes?
David Nielsen Ph.D.: Relevant real-world experience (i.e., internships); computational skills like programming; statistical analysis.
What soft skills should all Chemical Engineers possess?
David Nielsen Ph.D.: Communication, teamwork, decision-making.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Chemical Engineers?
David Nielsen Ph.D.: Strong fundamental understandings of mass and energy balances, as well as thermodynamics; data analysis.
What skills will help Chemical Engineers earn the most?
David Nielsen Ph.D.: The biggest differentiator is probably the sector that one enters, but enhancing leadership and business skills will help one rise to a more lucrative management position most quickly.
Christi Patton Luks
Professor (NTT) and Associate Chair for Academic AffairsMissouri University of Science & Technology
Linda & Bipin Doshi Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering
What soft skills should all Chemical Engineers possess?
Christi Patton Luks: Teamwork and communication skills are key! Everything is done with a team. You may be the expert on the process side of the project, but you need to have great communications with the mechanical team, the financial team, and those in operations. Everyone has a slightly different skill set and point of view, so it is critical that you make your concerns clear to the rest of the team, no matter their background. Another helpful soft skill is the ability to work with people from other cultures. Many companies are multinational, or their clients are in different countries. It can be tricky to set up a time to meet as a group when dealing with multiple time zones, but the cultural issues can also be daunting. The best way to build those skills is to get to know people of different backgrounds. A friend whose parents were born in Country X or has done a lot of travel can be incredibly helpful in warning you of cultural pitfalls.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Chemical Engineers?
Christi Patton Luks: We teach a lot of facts and theories. All of those are useful, but really the ability to problem solve and pull together the different things you’ve learned is what makes the difference. When I worked in the industry, I may not have solved a differential equation, but I had solved enough problems in school that I could recognize when the patterns I was seeing in real life had the correct trends. If the trend wasn’t what I expected, I got to dig deeper to figure out why. Curiosity and a desire to dig deeper to solve a problem really help.
What skills will help Chemical Engineers earn the most?
Christi Patton Luks: Frankly, your GPA may be the biggest driver for your first job out of college. A high GPA gets a lot of attention, but you’ll need work experience and activities to convert that into a job offer. If your GPA isn’t great, then those extracurricular activities and internships will be what lands you that job. The key is to tell a story about what you got out of each of those experiences. When I was interviewing for my first job, I think I got more interest in the fact that I had helped to organize a local preliminary competition to Miss America than anything else. I hadn’t competed! I had just organized the production of the show. I spent just a few weeks working on that project, but it was unusual and demonstrated leadership and organization, and teamwork.
Andriy Voronov
ProfessorNorth Dakota State University
Coatings and Polymeric Materials Department
How have salaries changed over time for Chemical Engineers?
Andriy Voronov: Being materials scientist means being able to do lot of things starting from fundamental research on material properties and characterization up to developing entirely new formulations and modify them to make new products suitable for new applications. One should be prepared to work in research lab, but also in pilot plants, as well as in manufacturing facilities. As for the soft skills, those are critical thinking, problem solving, communication, written and oral, including ability to communicate science to scientists, but also nonscientific audience, also flexibility and adaptability in (always) willing to learn. Although not a soft skill, but rather technical one, do not forget about fundamental knowledge and understanding of materials specifics and properties one works with.
What's a good job out of college for Chemical Engineers?
Scott Wise: Any job in the health care professions would be a good job upon graduation from college. The BLS expects health care to be the fastest growing employment industry between 2014 and 2024. This means not only better paying jobs but more secure jobs as well for those who are interested in helping those in need of health care in their communities.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Chemical Engineers?
Jerald Dumas: Those students who successfully navigate their engineering coursework and other extracurricular actives during the coronavirus pandemic would have displayed endurance, adaptably, and management skills, skill sets that will endure beyond the pandemic. During this remote period of learning, students have been required to enhance their time management skills as they cannot physically interact with professors or classmates. They experience obstacles such as engagement with parties in different time zones or social environments. The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated their maturity as it relates to such skill sets.
What type of skills will young Chemical Engineers need?
Jerald Dumas: The coronavirus pandemic has truly illustrated the need for effective communication both within and outside various entities. More specifically for engineers, the ability to communicate technical concepts across all platforms (e.g., video conferencing, e-mail, etc.) will be critical as the coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the effectiveness of such platforms to conduct business.
What experience really stands out on Chemical Engineer resumes?
Jerald Dumas: Student experience that demonstrates creativity and innovation stands out on resumes. Such activities could include an engaging research experience, involvement in entrepreneurship, or participation on a design team.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Chemical Engineer job market given the pandemic?
Thomas Junk Ph.D.: The most obvious consequence is a decline in the oil field sector, which used to employ many chemists. This is very noticeable in our area (Lafayette and its vicinity). As a result of this decline, the job market for chemists has dropped from very good to fair. However, most other chemistry jobs have been stable, and our students can still find industrial positions. A major sector for employment has been QA/QC-type lab work. This has not changed because chemistry is not as strongly affected by Covid as many other sectors of our economy are. Fundamentally, the jobs and types of skills needed have not changed very much (except for niche sectors such as oil field and transportation-related products). The cheap oil and gas have provided a boost to industries that depend on affordable petrochemicals (e.g., polymers).
What Chemical Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Thomas Junk Ph.D.: It is advisable to gain as much experience as possible, such as an internship. Graduates will usually get some help from their former home departments by way of contact names and referrals, but few take advantage of that. If there is no better option, even volunteer work can help. Of course, the closer the work is related to the student's future career path, the better. Another option is to return to college for an M.S. degree. One year already gets you halfway there, and a degree that provides you with specialized skills is well worth it. In practice, most graduate students in science and engineering find academic scholarships, so it doesn't have to cost you anything. Since most students change institutions for graduate school, their circle of friends and contacts drastically increases.
What general advice would you give to a Chemical Engineer?
Thomas Junk Ph.D.: While this may not exactly answer your question, it is very important to start making connections and to network WELL BEFORE graduation. Internships, volunteer work, membership in professional organizations, leadership activities all help to land a job after graduation. It is very important to continue networking as much as possible. The only true job security is the ability to find another job – it is truly liberating because it enables you to say "no" to your boss, if necessary. Also, I noticed that many graduates do not take advantage of all possible avenues to find employers. It is important to have a good web presence and to sign up on sites such as LinkedIn.
I also highly recommend cultivating ties to one's former institution and college friends. Often, job openings are filled by word of mouth: companies looking for somebody with a specific skill set ask around. A company contacted me for the name of somebody I could recommend for a specific job, but I came to find out that the contact information that I had of the person I wanted to recommend was no longer valid.
It is important to have specific career goals. Many recent graduates and fresh hires let their careers "drift" and have no idea where they want to be ten years from now. Also, always keep looking for jobs! Few jobs are so good that it is impossible to find a better one.
Dr. Atul Rai Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorWichita State University
School of Accountancy, Barton School of Business
What experience really stands out on Chemical Engineer resumes?
Dr. Atul Rai Ph.D.: Employers are looking for people who can integrate in multi-disciplinary environments to solve complex problems. They are looking for resumes that show quick learning. Such resumes will permanently be in great demand. Because the world is interconnected much more than it ever was, employees today will deal with customers, supply-chains, and fellow employees who are spread all over the world. It means that an experience that showcases the global perspective will be in demand over the long-term.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Chemical Engineers?
Marilena Hall Ph.D.: Our graduates tend to do very well in securing chemistry-related jobs in the workforce or enrolling at prestigious graduate programs. We saw no difference for our 2020 graduates during the first few months of the pandemic. What will happen in 2021 remains to be seen, but if jobs and programs in chemistry and biochemistry hold firm, we expect to see our students' same successes.
Unlike in other sectors, much laboratory work has been able to continue even with physical distancing requirements, as many laboratories are spacious. Where we have seen more pronounced effects of the pandemic, we expect the situation to be temporary. For example, during the early months of quarantine, some students in graduate programs were asked to stay away from the lab and work on literature searching and writing at home, which may have delayed some progress toward completing graduate school by a few months.
Upon returning to the bench, some labs have employed staggered schedules to ensure safe distances between lab workers, which, although inconvenient concerning work/life balance, have allowed lab work to resume close to the normal pace. I wouldn't expect too many long-term consequences once physical distancing is no longer necessary.
What type of skills will young Chemical Engineers need?
Marilena Hall Ph.D.: Along with the obvious scientific knowledge in one’s field such as chemistry or biochemistry, practical laboratory experience is key. The pandemic has caused many institutions to teach online or virtual labs. While arguably better than nothing, a virtual lab cannot approach the educational benefit of in-person, hands-on laboratory experience. We drew a line in the sand for organic chemistry and upper-level chemistry labs: they have to be hands-on. When we send our graduates forth from our program, we can assure that they come with the best laboratory training possible, even during the pandemic.
Other extremely important skills are the ability to read and analyze the chemical and biochemical literature and to present the research of oneself or others to an audience of peers. Significant practice engaging with and presenting scientific literature comes through seminar courses with high faculty/student ratios. Fortunately, these courses have been able to proceed with the added element of learning how to effectively present in an online format such as Zoom.
What experience really stands out on Chemical Engineer resumes?
Marilena Hall Ph.D.: Perhaps the most impressive thing a science graduate can have on their resume is an immersive research experience, in which they were responsible for their own project (advised by a faculty member or supervisor). This experience not only allows the student to stand out among others, but it provides great talking points during an interview. What better to talk about than an original research project in which one has been intimately involved?
The pandemic did limit the summer 2020 research experiences that we normally would have been able to provide to our chemistry and biochemistry majors, and 2021 is still up in the air. But we are actively working to ensure that students perform independent research as much as possible during the 2020-2021 academic year in order to provide this opportunity for all our majors.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Chemical Engineers?
Dr. Bradley Harris Ph.D.: "In terms of positive impact, I hope that students will graduate with a better sense of the information and technology available to them in the internet age. Faced with the loss of easy access to their professors and other campus resources, they’ve had to find reliable online sources, watch tutorials, and converse with students across the nation and globe in online communities.
I honestly believed that they would graduate with the same knowledge and skillset in terms of negative impact as in previous years. The legacy of getting a degree during a pandemic will likely be a lower GPA, which could be a factor in securing future employment. I’ve remarked often this year that the top 2% of students can succeed in any course format. The borderline B and C students have struggled, becoming more like marginal C and D students, due to the challenges posed by learning via hybrid and online modalities."
What type of skills will young Chemical Engineers need?
Dr. Bradley Harris Ph.D.: All chemical engineering students, and engineering students in general, will enter the workforce with a robust problem-solving skill set and a strong background in math and science. But to be truly successful, they will also need to have soft skills (e.g., oral and written communication, teamwork, leadership). And as the world trends toward a higher degree of reliance on computer technology and pursues cleaner, sustainable industries, young graduates will also need experience in coding languages, cellular and molecular biology, etc., to succeed.
What experience really stands out on Chemical Engineer resumes?
Dr. Bradley Harris Ph.D.: I always tell my students that any experience at all will help their resume stand out. Many students seem to think that graduating with an engineering degree and a high GPA will be enough to secure gainful employment. This is not the case, and graduates need to demonstrate other qualities to stand out during the hiring process. Internship and co-op opportunities, particularly those of long enough duration to indicate completion of an independent project, are a must. Students also need to be aware that other options are just as valuable, however. For example, wet-lab experience in a faculty research lab also stands out. They hold a leadership position in a student organization with demonstrable success in organizing community outreach and professional development activities.
Vianney Gimenez-Pinto Ph.D
Assistant Professor of Physics and ChemistryLincoln University of Missouri
Department of Science, Technology and Mathematics
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Chemical Engineer job market given the pandemic?
Vianney Gimenez-Pinto Ph.D: "This pandemic has highlighted the importance of science and technology in our everyday lives. This virus impacts the whole world. Fulfilling humanity's desire for ""going back to normal"" depends on Covid-19 related research, including the development of vaccines, therapeutics, epidemiology models, etc. Simultaneously, technology developments have allowed our society to endure restrictions and continue functioning online, remotely, and with minimal contact.
I am an incurable optimist, so I expect an increase in the demand for STEM professionals in all sectors and an investment increase in science and technology."
What skills stand out on Chemical Engineer resumes?
Vianney Gimenez-Pinto Ph.D:
Physicists are valued for their abstraction, mathematical reasoning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. However, I would not recommend spelling those out in a resume as they are embedded already in the major. A robust undergraduate resume should have research experiences, either based in their home-university or as an REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) program in another institution. Also, it should include conference presentations and internships. Those show the candidate's ability to apply the before-mentioned skills successfully.
If we must point out skills: Coding, common languages include (but are not limited to) Java, C/C++ and Python; Mathematical Modeling; and Experimental Design.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Chemical Engineers to find work opportunities?
Vianney Gimenez-Pinto Ph.D: For a Physics Major interested in research, a straightforward option is to continue working towards a graduate degree (either a Master's or a Ph.D.), obtaining work as a Graduate Research Assistant. The physics community is highly committed to maintaining a well-functioning science and research system in the US. As I mentioned before, Science and Technology are the keys to overcome this crisis. Thus, I cannot imagine that the pandemic will reduce students' opportunities to pursue graduate studies and research. If it does, I expect a collective push to keep science moving forward, rain or shine.
A scientist with completed graduate studies has a variety of available work opportunities both in industry and academia. Graduate school teaches cutting-edge science and requires the student to contribute to the body of scientific knowledge. However, succeeding also involves various soft skills such as project management, resilience, teamwork, unique organizations, science communication skills, etc.
In industry and technology development, STEM Ph.D. s (Physics Included) are valuable due to these soft skills in combination with mathematical reasoning, problem-solving, and critical thinking. In academia, this skill-combo also make them the force behind US scientific discovery and innovation. STEM Ph.D. s can also find jobs as editors for scientific journals, science writers and communicators, scientific consultants, science policy advisors, program managers of science education and diversity initiatives, among others.
Still, a Physics Major does not need to get a graduate degree to get rewarding employment in this economy. A Physics Bachelor's degree can open the door to a science teaching career at the high-school level or work as a professional science tutor. Physics Bachelors can also work as laboratory technicians, code developers, data scientists, science communicators, among other career paths. Last but not least, a Physics Bachelor can start his own tech company and flourish as an entrepreneur.
Steve Opoku-Duah Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Chemistry & ChairLipscomb University
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Chemical Engineers?
Steve Opoku-Duah Ph.D.:
This is a hard question to answer. Who knows tomorrow? But I think there will be some enduring impact. What I am not certain of is the magnitude. There is not a single individual who has not suffered loss because of the COVID-19 pandemic at this present time. Nations, cities, families, individuals, jobs, and academic institutions have all been badly hit, and recovery is expected to be slow and painful.
Academic institutions like Lipscomb University created innovative strategies that have resulted in a good mix of in-person instruction and virtual learning. Still, we have experienced significant adverse impacts at the chemistry department, including inadequate faculty-student contact and Zoom virtual meetings, diminished laboratory hands-on work, and reduced collaborative learning.
What type of skills will young Chemical Engineers need?
Steve Opoku-Duah Ph.D.: Chemistry is a highly analytical and problem-solving discipline with strong connections with everyday human social problems, industry, and the environment. I expect chemistry graduates to develop robust analytical and critical thinking skills, competence in problem-solving, and adaptability at their workplaces.
What experience really stands out on Chemical Engineer resumes?
Steve Opoku-Duah Ph.D.: A chemistry graduate's resume must list his/her achievements in project management, scientific research, internships, published writings, and public presentation.
Dr. Micheal Fultz
Associate Professor of ChemistryWest Virginia State University
What experience really stands out on Chemical Engineer resumes?
Dr. Micheal Fultz: This might come as a surprise, but what stands out isn't necessarily chemistry experience. This isn't universally true, but in some research groups/internships, the students are glorified bottle washers. This is often a topic of discussion during the interview process, just to see what the experience consisted of. Holding a position like a shift supervisor at a restaurant illustrates a lot of leadership skills, especially of people who aren't your peer group. And it tends to illustrate the ability to balance a whole bunch of responsibilities. The resume needs to demonstrate what are core competencies (respect, teamwork, customer focus, innovation) and should be clearly demonstrated in the resume.
How do you envision technology impacting Chemical Engineers in the next 5 years?
Dr. Micheal Fultz: I think industry and academia will continue to use more remote meetings, the ability to monitor processes and instrumentation from everywhere, AND the expectation your job is more than 40 hours a week. More meetings may be scheduled at the convenience of everyone, which includes evenings.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Chemical Engineers?
Dr. Micheal Fultz: There's likely to be a lack of students with hands-on experience from internships and similar experiences. As students have gotten accustomed to virtual classrooms and working remotely, there could be some expectation that this is allowed in the professional realm, which will be dependent on the company they work for on whether that is possible.