1. Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA • Private
In-State Tuition
$12,424
Enrollment
15,201
What is a Chemical Research Engineer?
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a chemical research engineer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $45.58 an hour? That's $94,803 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 6% and produce 2,100 job opportunities across the U.S.
What Does a Chemical Research Engineer Do
There are certain skills that many chemical research engineers have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed analytical skills, interpersonal skills and creativity.
How To Become a Chemical Research Engineer
If you're interested in becoming a chemical research engineer, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 71.3% of chemical research engineers have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 11.8% of chemical research engineers have master's degrees. Even though most chemical research engineers have a college degree, it's impossible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Chemical Research Engineer Career Paths
As you move along in your career, you may start taking on more responsibilities or notice that you've taken on a leadership role. Using our career map, a chemical research engineer can determine their career goals through the career progression. For example, they could start out with a role such as chemical engineer, progress to a title such as process engineer and then eventually end up with the title senior process engineer.
Chemical Research Engineer
Senior Process Engineer
9 Years
Project Engineering Manager
7 Years
Project Director
8 Years
Engineering Manager
10 Years
Engineering Director
13 Years
Product Development Manager
7 Years
Show More
Average Salary for a Chemical Research Engineer
Chemical Research Engineers in America make an average salary of $94,803 per year or $46 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $128,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $69,000 per year.
Average Chemical Research Engineer Salary
$94,803Â Yearly$45.58 hourly
What Am I Worth?
Roles and Types of Chemical Research Engineer
There are several types of chemical research engineer, including:
Engineer
Role:
Engineers design and develop new products in a variety of different industries. They might be mechanical or software engineers or create electric machinery, design chemical or geotechnical processes, or help to structure civil or management disciplines. Whatever the case may be, engineers are involved in creating the diverse technologies that facilitate the processes of our lives in different areas. Combining creative thinking with the principles of mathematics and science using a wide range of technical skills, engineers work on the design, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance of various products from machines, vehicles, buildings, and roads to software or social processes serving consumers, businesses, and societies.
Engineers are creative thinkers and brilliant problem solvers. They excel at mathematical, scientific, and mechanical analysis. They follow plans and blueprints with a strong focus, yet remain flexible and work well under pressure.
Engineers develop systems for solving various problems as members of a team. They know that a single component is worthless without their counterparts, so they have to be great communicators, as well, to be successful at their job.
Engineers are creative thinkers and brilliant problem solvers. They excel at mathematical, scientific, and mechanical analysis. They follow plans and blueprints with a strong focus, yet remain flexible and work well under pressure.
Engineers develop systems for solving various problems as members of a team. They know that a single component is worthless without their counterparts, so they have to be great communicators, as well, to be successful at their job.
- Average Salary: $92,077
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Research Engineer
Role:
Research Engineers develop, investigate and evaluate new products and equipment to be used in engineering industries. They are involved in a wide range of research activities and the development of new technologies. They are also responsible for improving existing technical processes and creating new innovative technologies. Research Engineers find improvement solutions in response to specific problems.
Research engineers usually report to a supervisor. They work in an array of industries, including petroleum, aerospace, and the automotive industry. A successful research engineer should have technical skills, critical thinking skills, research skills, communication skills, problem-solving skills, analytical skills, and attention to detail.
The typical workweek for a research engineer is 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday from 9 to 5. When they have to deliver on urgent project deadlines, they may work late evenings and over the weekends.
Research engineers usually report to a supervisor. They work in an array of industries, including petroleum, aerospace, and the automotive industry. A successful research engineer should have technical skills, critical thinking skills, research skills, communication skills, problem-solving skills, analytical skills, and attention to detail.
The typical workweek for a research engineer is 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday from 9 to 5. When they have to deliver on urgent project deadlines, they may work late evenings and over the weekends.
- Average Salary: $96,945
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Chemical Engineer
Role:
Chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry, biology, mathematics, and physics to transform raw materials into valuable products. They create fuel, food, drugs, and many other substances used as ingredients for commodities.
As a chemical engineer, you will be responsible for developing and carrying out various chemical processes. You will design chemical machinery and test procedures, contribute to the construction of process plants, and plan production methods.
You might be employed in various industries, such as pharmaceutical production, consumer goods, plastics, paints, or synthetics. You can work for food manufacturers, oil companies, or water treatment. The possibilities are numerous, and the demand for the profession is increasing along with the average growth through all occupations.
As a chemical engineer, you will be responsible for developing and carrying out various chemical processes. You will design chemical machinery and test procedures, contribute to the construction of process plants, and plan production methods.
You might be employed in various industries, such as pharmaceutical production, consumer goods, plastics, paints, or synthetics. You can work for food manufacturers, oil companies, or water treatment. The possibilities are numerous, and the demand for the profession is increasing along with the average growth through all occupations.
- Average Salary: $89,449
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree
States With The Most Chemical Research Engineer Jobs
Mouse over a state to see the number of active chemical research engineer jobs in each state. The darker areas on the map show where chemical research engineers earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.
Average Salary: Job Openings:
Number Of Chemical Research Engineer Jobs By State
| Rank | State | Number of Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 1,901 | $116,434 |
| 2 | New York | 1,880 | $89,010 |
| 3 | California | 1,600 | $107,439 |
| 4 | Florida | 1,410 | $85,520 |
| 5 | Virginia | 1,290 | $98,534 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 1,230 | $78,490 |
| 7 | Illinois | 1,164 | $97,826 |
| 8 | Maryland | 1,068 | $95,191 |
| 9 | Ohio | 886 | $81,624 |
| 10 | Georgia | 872 | $91,771 |
| 11 | Colorado | 869 | $78,957 |
| 12 | New Jersey | 838 | $105,974 |
| 13 | North Carolina | 819 | $87,313 |
| 14 | Michigan | 812 | $87,181 |
| 15 | Minnesota | 690 | $95,100 |
| 16 | Oregon | 675 | $93,381 |
| 17 | Arizona | 639 | $87,910 |
| 18 | Tennessee | 537 | $91,664 |
| 19 | Missouri | 511 | $105,032 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | 495 | $83,699 |
| 21 | Washington | 475 | $95,546 |
| 22 | Indiana | 455 | $87,820 |
| 23 | Utah | 385 | $79,660 |
| 24 | Massachusetts | 357 | $100,499 |
| 25 | Connecticut | 333 | $73,540 |
| 26 | Alabama | 279 | $91,014 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | 247 | $112,228 |
| 28 | South Carolina | 245 | $89,047 |
| 29 | Iowa | 224 | $93,298 |
| 30 | Nebraska | 221 | $98,255 |
| 31 | Kentucky | 217 | $83,835 |
| 32 | New Mexico | 208 | $116,207 |
| 33 | Louisiana | 204 | $104,247 |
| 34 | Kansas | 197 | $66,782 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | 183 | $68,532 |
| 36 | Arkansas | 178 | $80,046 |
| 37 | Delaware | 175 | $78,549 |
| 38 | Mississippi | 146 | $78,486 |
| 39 | West Virginia | 143 | $82,353 |
| 40 | Rhode Island | 143 | $80,221 |
| 41 | Nevada | 137 | $84,473 |
| 42 | Idaho | 136 | $91,816 |
| 43 | Vermont | 116 | $98,700 |
| 44 | Maine | 116 | $92,441 |
| 45 | Montana | 96 | $90,600 |
| 46 | South Dakota | 91 | $79,642 |
| 47 | Hawaii | 72 | $93,641 |
| 48 | Wyoming | 64 | $72,759 |
| 49 | North Dakota | 58 | $95,689 |
| 50 | Alaska | 26 | $81,362 |
Top Colleges for Chemical Research Engineers
2. Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$52,930
Enrollment
5,030
3. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$53,308
Enrollment
6,819
4. Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH • Private
In-State Tuition
$49,042
Enrollment
5,131
5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-State Tuition
$51,832
Enrollment
4,550
6. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-State Tuition
$11,207
Enrollment
30,905
7. Clemson University
Clemson, SC • Private
In-State Tuition
$15,374
Enrollment
19,564
8. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
9. Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, NJ • Private
In-State Tuition
$52,202
Enrollment
3,420
10. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA • Private
In-State Tuition
$13,620
Enrollment
27,730
Top Skills For a Chemical Research Engineer
The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 35.4% of chemical research engineers listed chemical engineering on their resume, but soft skills such as analytical skills and interpersonal skills are important as well.
Chemical Research Engineer Demographics
Chemical Research Engineer Gender Distribution
Male
70%
Female
30%
After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- Among chemical research engineers, 30.1% of them are women, while 69.9% are men.
- The most common race/ethnicity among chemical research engineers is White, which makes up 59.7% of all chemical research engineers.
- The most common foreign language among chemical research engineers is Spanish at 24.1%.
Online Courses For Chemical Research Engineer That You May Like
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1. Chemical Biology
Chemical biology is a burgeoning field that has rapidly risen to prominence. This surge of interest has been fuelled by chemical biology’s applicability to understanding critical processes in live cells or model organisms in real time. This success has arisen because chemical biology straddles a nexus between chemistry, biology, and physics. Thus, chemical biology can harness rapid chemistry to observe or perturb biological processes, that are in turn reported using physical assays, all in an...
See More on Coursera2. Understanding Research Methods
This MOOC is about demystifying research and research methods. It will outline the fundamentals of doing research, aimed primarily, but not exclusively, at the postgraduate level. It places the student experience at the centre of our endeavours by engaging learners in a range of robust and challenging discussions and exercises befitting SOAS, University of London's status as a research-intensive university and its rich research heritage. The course will appeal to those of you who require an...
See More on Coursera3. Introduction to Data Engineering
This course introduces you to the core concepts, processes, and tools you need to know in order to get a foundational knowledge of data engineering. You will gain an understanding of the modern data ecosystem and the role Data Engineers, Data Scientists, and Data Analysts play in this ecosystem. The Data Engineering Ecosystem includes several different components. It includes disparate data types, formats, and sources of data. Data Pipelines gather data from multiple sources, transform it into...
See More on CourseraJob type you want
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Best States For a Chemical Research Engineer
Some places are better than others when it comes to starting a career as a chemical research engineer. The best states for people in this position are Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and California. Chemical research engineers make the most in Texas with an average salary of $116,434. Whereas in New Mexico and Oklahoma, they would average $116,207 and $112,228, respectively. While chemical research engineers would only make an average of $107,439 in California, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.
1. New Mexico
Total Chemical Research Engineer Jobs: 208
Highest 10% Earn:
$161,000
Location Quotient:
1.15
$116,207
Avg. Salary
2. Texas
Total Chemical Research Engineer Jobs: 1,901
Highest 10% Earn:
$161,000
Location Quotient:
1.02
$116,434
Avg. Salary
3. New Jersey
Total Chemical Research Engineer Jobs: 838
Highest 10% Earn:
$149,000
Location Quotient:
1.15
$105,974
Avg. Salary
How Do Chemical Research Engineer Rate Their Jobs?
Top Chemical Research Engineer Employers
Most Common Employers For Chemical Research Engineer
| Rank | Company | Average Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Merck | $114,693 | $55.14 | 4 |
| 2 | Forest Laboratories | $114,272 | $54.94 | 2 |
| 3 | Cargill | $105,595 | $50.77 | 4 |
| 4 | Argonne National Laboratory | $105,459 | $50.70 | 2 |
| 5 | West Virginia University | $98,467 | $47.34 | 2 |
| 6 | Eastman | $97,144 | $46.70 | 9 |
| 7 | BASF | $92,518 | $44.48 | 7 |
| 8 | Appvion | $89,584 | $43.07 | 2 |
| 9 | Rentech | $85,843 | $41.27 | 2 |
| 10 | Babcock & Wilcox | $84,361 | $40.56 | 2 |