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Job outlook for junior process engineers in the United States
Junior process engineer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected junior process engineer job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 30,600 new jobs for junior process engineers are projected over the next decade.
Junior process engineer salaries have increased 6% for junior process engineers in the last 5 years.
There are over 10,831 junior process engineers currently employed in the United States.
There are 63,010 active junior process engineer job openings in the US.
The average junior process engineer salary is $69,606.
Are junior process engineer jobs in demand?
Junior process engineer job and salary trends over time
Junior process engineer jobs over time
Junior process engineer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,831 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 10,800 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 11,093 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 10,810 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 10,438 | 0.00% |
Average junior process engineer salary over time
Junior process engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $69,606 | $33.46 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $68,878 | $33.11 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $68,111 | $32.75 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $67,203 | $32.31 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $65,975 | $31.72 | +1.0% |
Junior process engineer jobs by state
Most common states for junior process engineers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 327 | 47% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,455 | 21% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 206 | 21% |
| 4 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,612 | 19% |
| 5 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,073 | 18% |
| 6 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 240 | 18% |
| 7 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 532 | 17% |
| 8 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 878 | 16% |
| 9 | California | 39,536,653 | 5,859 | 15% |
| 10 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 779 | 14% |
| 11 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 590 | 14% |
| 12 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 965 | 13% |
| 13 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 892 | 13% |
| 14 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 620 | 13% |
| 15 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 215 | 13% |
| 16 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 826 | 12% |
| 17 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 448 | 12% |
| 18 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 393 | 12% |
| 19 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 93 | 12% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 76 | 12% |
Most common cities for junior process engineers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Encinitas | 1 | 2% | $78,843 |
| 2 | National City | 1 | 2% | $78,525 |
| 3 | El Cajon | 1 | 1% | $78,578 |
| 4 | San Diego | 3 | 0% | $78,638 |
| 5 | Arlington | 1 | 0% | $70,053 |
| 6 | Chula Vista | 1 | 0% | $78,504 |
Junior Process Engineer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of junior process engineer experts
University of New Mexico
San Jose State University
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Tuskegee University
Arizona State University
Missouri University of Science & Technology
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
North Dakota State University
University of Denver
Hampton University
University of Houston - Downtown
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
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Tuskegee University
What will help Junior Process 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 Junior Process 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 Junior Process 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.
Kimberly Henthorn
Department Head & Associate ProfessorRose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Department of Chemical Engineering
What skills stand out on Junior Process 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 Junior Process 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 Junior Process Engineers?
Kimberly Henthorn: Math and problem solving is at the heart of being a good chemical engineer.
What skills will help Junior Process 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 Junior Process 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 Junior Process Engineers possess?
Dr. Michael Curry Ph.D.: Excellent critical thinker.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Junior Process Engineers?
Dr. Michael Curry Ph.D.: Strong background in chemical processes.
David Nielsen Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorArizona State University
School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy
What skills stand out on Junior Process Engineer resumes?
David Nielsen Ph.D.: Relevant real-world experience (i.e., internships); computational skills like programming; statistical analysis.
What soft skills should all Junior Process Engineers possess?
David Nielsen Ph.D.: Communication, teamwork, decision-making.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Junior Process Engineers?
David Nielsen Ph.D.: Strong fundamental understandings of mass and energy balances, as well as thermodynamics; data analysis.
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 Junior Process 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 Junior Process 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 Junior Process 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.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Junior Process Engineer job market given the pandemic?
William Cross Ph.D.: The biggest job market trends given the pandemic are working from home, and slightly delayed hiring - in Metallurgical Engineering at SD Mines, it took about 9-12 months for our Spring 2020 graduates to be hired to levels that took less than three months pre-pandemic, although eventually most of our graduates have been placed. The Fall 2020 graduates have seen a similar delay.
I expect some of the work from home will remain into the future, but do not expect the delayed hiring to extend for too much longer. I also expect that in some fields the pandemic has accelerated trends towards greater automation of job functions.
What soft skills should all Junior Process Engineers possess?
William Cross Ph.D.: The soft skills that all graduates should possess are primarily in communication - speaking/writing clearly, and listening/reading comprehension - and in teamwork skills. Being able to function in a variety of roles on a team is very important to success in many jobs.
How have salaries changed over time for Junior Process Engineers?
William Cross Ph.D.: This of course depends on the time range to which the question refers. Over the last 4-5 years salaries have been rather flat on average going by SD Mines graduates in Metallurgical Engineering, although this is working off a rather high baseline. SD Mines has been recognized as the top engineering schools in the nation for return on investment, and Metallugical Engineering has an above average starting salary for SD Mines at around $65,000/year.
Andriy Voronov
ProfessorNorth Dakota State University
Coatings and Polymeric Materials Department
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Junior Process Engineers?
Andriy Voronov: I think most graduate programs in materials science offer opportunities for interdisciplinary research and educational activities. Their philosophy is to educate and prepare job prospects by providing advanced aspects of work, including extensive collaborations between departments, programs, institutions or with industrial partners. Offering specialized trainings in various areas, graduate programs aim to merge basic and applied research within the certain field. With this said, quit often graduate programs work also with leading industrial scientists who help to provide to the graduates new and practical directions to become competitive at the job market. Answering your question more specifically, graduate programs do target as complementary and comprehensive education as possible. It will be interesting to hear from graduates what courses they took have the biggest impact for them, as well as if they need any additional certifications/licenses and which specifically.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Junior Process Engineers?
Andriy Voronov: Since pandemic is not over yet, there may be only a guess on how significant this impact can be. I think answering this question resonates with more general one, namely, "Will our life after COVID-19 be the same as before?" We all want to be positive about that but are just not certain. Moreover, I think in some professional aspects in most fields, changes are unavoidable. Working from home, attending virtual conferences, taking part in Zoom meetings, even virtual get together with colleagues will most probably remain to be a new post-pandemic working routine, by all advantages and disadvantages this may bring to most recent graduates. Speaking about materials science, I hope and do believe that there will be global and impactful factors other than coronavirus pandemic, such as novel materials trends, technological innovations etc., to take into account for graduates.
How have salaries changed over time for Junior Process 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.
Dr. Matt Howard Gordon Ph.D.
Professor & Chair, Mechanical & Materials EngineeringUniversity of Denver
Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Junior Process Engineers?
Dr. Matt Howard Gordon Ph.D.: I think so. At least for a couple years.
What's a good job out of college for Junior Process Engineers?
Dr. Matt Howard Gordon Ph.D.: I think any technical job is a good job for engineers. You build experience, ideally in an area of interest, making it easier to get your next job.
What will help Junior Process Engineers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Matt Howard Gordon Ph.D.: I stress outside the class experiences - internships, undergraduate research, and/or study abroad. I believe all help with earning potential. And maybe students should consider getting their PE.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Junior Process 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 experience really stands out on Junior Process 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.
Dr. Maria Benavides Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Chemistry Program Coordinator, Assistant ChairUniversity of Houston - Downtown
College of Sciences and Technology
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Junior Process Engineer job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Maria Benavides Ph.D.: Chemistry graduates can work in a broad spectrum of fields: education, government agencies, research laboratories, and industry (oil, chemical, healthcare, pharmaceutical), and these jobs should still be viable options to Chemistry majors, even during the pandemic. As a result of the pandemic, I anticipate a greater number of opportunities arising in the pharmaceutical industry and the drug discovery field.
What skills stand out on Junior Process Engineer resumes?
Dr. Maria Benavides Ph.D.: Apart from a good foundation in the chemistry discipline, skills that will stand out on resumes include: experience in various analytical techniques, excellent communication skills both verbally and in writing, ability to work collaboratively (team player), and the ability to think critically to find solutions to problems (problem solving). Another valuable skill nowadays would be to be competent in the use of technology for communication purposes (Zoom, etc.).
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Junior Process Engineers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Maria Benavides Ph.D.: Texas is a good place for Chemistry graduates, particularly the city of Houston, which houses the largest medical center in the world, and the largest petroleum industry hub in the world. Most of our graduates find employment in the oil industry but also in those companies that provide services to the petroleum industry, such as chemical supply, waste disposal, chemical safety, etc. Our graduates also find employment in the medical research field, in research labs such as the famous UT Anderson Cancer Center.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Junior Process 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 Junior Process 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 Junior Process 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 Junior Process 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.
What type of skills will young Junior Process 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.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Junior Process 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 Junior Process 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 Junior Process 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 skills stand out on Junior Process 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.
Steve Opoku-Duah Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Chemistry & ChairLipscomb University
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
What type of skills will young Junior Process 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 Junior Process 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 Junior Process 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 Junior Process 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 Junior Process 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.
What general advice would you give to a Junior Process Engineer?
Dr. Sanchari Chowdhury Ph.D.: Chemical engineers are sought after by a wide range of companies, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, biomedical, food, nuclear and other power generation industries, delicate and heavy chemicals, and environmental protection, to name a few. It will help if you are looking to work for a company that allows them to narrow your focus on the area of chemical engineering that interests you the most. During this uncertain time of the pandemic, we may not be seeing as many as job opportunities as we would like to see. However, it is also true that local recruiters are looking to hire people from within the state to avoid any complications due to travel. So, looking for opportunities within the country is a good option. When it comes to job applications, persistence is the key. Don't get discouraged if you don't hear back after five applications; sometimes, it takes more than fifty applications before you land a job. If your plan includes graduate studies, this may also be a good time to do that.
How would you rate the starting salaries for Junior Process Engineers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Sanchari Chowdhury Ph.D.: Chemical Engineers are one of the highest-paid professionals out there. The median annual wage for chemical engineers is $108,770, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $66,810 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $176,090. The starting salary could be easily around 75k for a Chemical Engineering BS. See the following website Bls
Tamara Smith Ph.D.
Associate Provost, Professor of Chemical EngineeringTuskegee University
Department of Chemical Engineering
What experience really stands out on Junior Process Engineer resumes?
Tamara Smith Ph.D.: Bar none; internship experiences stand out most on resumes. Those students have the benefit of real-world experience and contributions.
How do you envision technology impacting Junior Process Engineers in the next 5 years?
Tamara Smith Ph.D.: COVID-19 catapulted the nation into teleworking. Organizations that didn't consider it an option previously now recognize its benefits and challenges. The future will likely look different. Web-conferencing tools and other technology allow remote work. Travel may be reduced because of the efficacy of web-conferencing. Chemical engineering was already a field of control rooms, but it may be that individuals monitoring sites are even farther away.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Junior Process Engineers?
Tamara Smith Ph.D.: Career-wise, pharmaceuticals are one field that employs chemical engineers. The scale of the pandemic may lead to additional opportunities in pharmaceuticals and related fields. Socially and emotionally, the coronavirus pandemic will have an enduring impact. Comparisons have been made to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and how they profoundly impacted a generation. The enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic is likely to be even more significant. Another point of comparison is the 1918 flu pandemic. It was also a deadly pandemic that many had never talked about until the coronavirus pandemic. Some graduates won't have commencement photos and other memorabilia. Their senior year memories are of quarantine, remote learning, and physical distancing in classrooms. The graduates will be resilient and more robust for the experience, but the impact will be enduring.