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Chemical research engineer salary
Average chemical research engineer salary
$94,803
Understanding the Chemical Research Engineer Salary Landscape
A Chemical Research Engineer typically earns an average salary of $94,803 per year. This figure can vary based on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific sector within the chemical industry. For instance, engineers in states like California and Texas often see higher salaries due to demand and cost of living considerations.
Furthermore, job roles that involve specialized skills, such as process design or safety analysis, may command even higher salaries. The highest-paying cities for this role include San Francisco, Seattle, and Houston, where opportunities abound in both research and development sectors. As the industry evolves, ongoing education and certifications can further enhance earning potential, making this an attractive field for aspiring engineers.
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Where can a Chemical Research Engineer earn more?
Average chemical research engineer salary by state
The average chemical research engineer salary in Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average chemical research engineer salary states are Pennsylvania, Mississippi, and Connecticut.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for chemical research engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | $116,207 | $55.87 |
| 2 | Texas | $116,434 | $55.98 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $105,974 | $50.95 |
| 4 | Vermont | $98,700 | $47.45 |
| 5 | Oklahoma | $112,228 | $53.96 |
| 6 | Missouri | $105,032 | $50.50 |
| 7 | Nebraska | $98,255 | $47.24 |
| 8 | Virginia | $98,534 | $47.37 |
| 9 | Illinois | $97,826 | $47.03 |
| 10 | Louisiana | $104,247 | $50.12 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $106,382 | $51.15 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $95,100 | $45.72 |
| 13 | Oregon | $93,381 | $44.89 |
| 14 | Maryland | $95,191 | $45.76 |
| 15 | Tennessee | $91,664 | $44.07 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $95,689 | $46.00 |
| 17 | Maine | $92,441 | $44.44 |
| 18 | California | $107,439 | $51.65 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $100,499 | $48.32 |
| 20 | Iowa | $93,298 | $44.85 |
| 21 | Michigan | $87,181 | $41.91 |
| 22 | Idaho | $91,816 | $44.14 |
| 23 | Arizona | $87,910 | $42.26 |
| 24 | Georgia | $91,771 | $44.12 |
| 25 | Washington | $95,546 | $45.94 |
| 26 | New York | $89,010 | $42.79 |
| 27 | Alabama | $91,014 | $43.76 |
| 28 | Indiana | $87,820 | $42.22 |
| 29 | Montana | $90,600 | $43.56 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $87,313 | $41.98 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $82,353 | $39.59 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $93,641 | $45.02 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $89,047 | $42.81 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $83,699 | $40.24 |
| 35 | Utah | $79,660 | $38.30 |
| 36 | Florida | $85,520 | $41.12 |
| 37 | Ohio | $81,624 | $39.24 |
| 38 | Rhode Island | $80,221 | $38.57 |
| 39 | Pennsylvania | $78,490 | $37.74 |
| 40 | Delaware | $78,549 | $37.76 |
| 41 | Colorado | $78,957 | $37.96 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $83,835 | $40.31 |
| 43 | Nevada | $84,473 | $40.61 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $79,642 | $38.29 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $72,759 | $34.98 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $80,046 | $38.48 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $78,486 | $37.73 |
| 48 | Alaska | $81,362 | $39.12 |
| 49 | New Hampshire | $68,532 | $32.95 |
| 50 | Connecticut | $73,540 | $35.36 |
| 51 | Kansas | $66,782 | $32.11 |
Highest paying cities for chemical research engineers
The highest-paying cities for chemical research engineers are Houston, TX, San Leandro, CA, and Clifton, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $117,049 | $56.27 |
| 2 | San Leandro, CA | $113,543 | $54.59 |
| 3 | Clifton, NJ | $106,093 | $51.01 |
| 4 | Lincoln, NE | $98,015 | $47.12 |
| 5 | Naperville, IL | $97,916 | $47.08 |
| 6 | Lynchburg, VA | $96,892 | $46.58 |
| 7 | Savage, MN | $94,866 | $45.61 |
| 8 | Kingsport, TN | $93,079 | $44.75 |
| 9 | Idaho Falls, ID | $89,250 | $42.91 |
| 10 | Raleigh, NC | $87,713 | $42.17 |
| 11 | Cleveland, OH | $82,493 | $39.66 |
| 12 | Charleston, WV | $81,754 | $39.30 |
| 13 | Fayetteville, AR | $79,267 | $38.11 |
| 14 | Commerce City, CO | $78,684 | $37.83 |
| 15 | Pittsburgh, PA | $76,978 | $37.01 |
| 16 | Wichita, KS | $67,276 | $32.34 |
Chemical research engineer salary details
A chemical research engineer's salary ranges from $69,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $128,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a chemical research engineer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $128,000 | $10,667 | $62 |
| 75th Percentile | $111,000 | $9,250 | $53 |
| Average | $94,803 | $7,900 | $46 |
| 25th Percentile | $80,000 | $6,667 | $38 |
| 10th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
Highest paying chemical research engineer jobs
The highest paying types of chemical research engineers are senior chemical engineer, research engineer, and fuels engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineer | $92,076 | $7,673 | $44.27 | 618,207 |
| Research Chemist | $75,843 | $6,320 | $36.46 | 53,769 |
| Plastics Engineer | $80,304 | $6,692 | $38.61 | 47,267 |
| Chemical Engineering Internship | $76,041 | $6,337 | $36.56 | 99,481 |
| Chemical Engineer | $89,449 | $7,454 | $43.00 | 42,176 |
| Research Engineer | $96,945 | $8,079 | $46.61 | 136,763 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for chemical research engineers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Sanchari Chowdhury Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Top companies hiring chemical research engineers now:
Which companies pay chemical research engineers the most?
Chemical research engineer salaries at BP America Inc and Occidental Petroleum are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average chemical research engineer salary at companies like Cargill and General Electric are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BP America Inc | $130,841 | $62.90 |
| 2 | Occidental Petroleum | $113,003 | $54.33 |
| 3 | Cargill | $105,595 | $50.77 |
| 4 | General Electric | $102,352 | $49.21 |
| 5 | Eastman | $97,144 | $46.70 |
| 6 | Parker Hannifin | $95,759 | $46.04 |
| 7 | BWX Technologies | $94,245 | $45.31 |
| 8 | BASF | $92,518 | $44.48 |
| 9 | Alliance for Sustainable Energy | $86,699 | $41.68 |
| 10 | Rentech | $85,843 | $41.27 |
| 11 | FRI Holding Company LLC | $85,527 | $41.12 |
| 12 | Oatey | $82,865 | $39.84 |
| 13 | Nuclear Fuel Services | $82,761 | $39.79 |
| 14 | ARA | $81,363 | $39.12 |
| 15 | University of Illinois Springfield | $80,621 | $38.76 |
| 16 | Centers For Disease Control And Prevention | $77,915 | $37.46 |
| 17 | Board Of Regents Of The University System Of Georgia | $60,962 | $29.31 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Chemical research engineer salary trends
The average chemical research engineer salary has risen by $13,634 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average chemical research engineer earned $81,169 annually, but today, they earn $94,803 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for chemical research engineers over the last decade.
Compare chemical research engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average chemical research engineer salary over time
Compare chemical research engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Chemical research engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $94,800 | $45.58 | -0.2% |
| 2024 | $95,000 | $45.67 | +3.5% |
| 2023 | $91,600 | $44.05 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | $89,200 | $42.90 | +3.7% |
| 2021 | $85,900 | $41.30 | +1.0% |
Recently added chemical research engineer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research Triangle Institute (U.S.) | Research Chemical Engineer 2 | Durham, NC | 02/18/2025 | $137,251 |
| The Aerospace Corporation | 2025 Chemical Propulsion Research Engineer | El Segundo, CA | 02/18/2025 | $100,000 |
| Research Triangle Institute (U.S.) | Research Chemical Engineer 2 | Durham, NC | 02/17/2025 | $137,251 |
| The Aerospace | 2025 Chemical Propulsion Research Engineer | El Segundo, CA | 01/26/2025 | $100,000 |
| GE Vernova International | Research Engineer-Chemical Engineering | Niskayuna, NY | 01/16/2025 | $85,600 |
| GE Vernova | Research Engineer-Chemical Engineering | Niskayuna, NY | 01/14/2025 | $85,600 |
| The Aerospace Corporation | 2025 Chemical Propulsion Research Engineer | El Segundo, CA | 12/13/2024 | $100,000 |
| GE Vernova Group | Research Engineer-Chemical Engineering | Niskayuna, NY | 09/16/2024 | $85,600 |
| Veolia North America | Lead Research Chemical Engineer | Tucson, AZ | 08/27/2024 | $80,000 |
| Veolia WTS | Lead Research Chemical Engineer | Tucson, AZ | 08/26/2024 | $80,000 |
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