Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Chemical Engineers
Chemical Engineers design chemical plant equipment and devise processes for manufacturing chemicals and products, such as gasoline, synthetic rubber, plastics, detergents, cement, paper, and pulp, by applying principles and technology of chemistry, physics, and engineering.
Table of contents
What they do
Chemical Engineers design chemical plant equipment and devise processes for manufacturing chemicals and products, such as gasoline, synthetic rubber, plastics, detergents, cement, paper, and pulp, by applying principles and technology of chemistry, physics, and engineering.
- Monitor and analyze data from processes and experiments.
- Develop safety procedures to be employed by workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions.
- Develop processes to separate components of liquids or gases or generate electrical currents, using controlled chemical processes.
- Troubleshoot problems with chemical manufacturing processes.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Chemical Engineers monitor and analyze data from processes and experiments. They troubleshoot problems with chemical manufacturing processes.
- Perform tests and monitor the performance of processes throughout stages of production to determine the degree of control over variables such as temperature, density, specific gravity, and pressure.
- Conduct research to develop new and improved chemical manufacturing processes.
- Develop safety procedures to be employed by workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions.
- Direct activities of workers who operate or are engaged in constructing and improving absorption, evaporation, or electromagnetic equipment.
- Design measurement and control systems for chemical plants based on data collected in laboratory experiments and in pilot plant operations.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Chemical Engineers also develop processes to separate components of liquids or gases or generate electrical currents, using controlled chemical processes. They may also determine the most effective arrangement of operations such as mixing, crushing, heat transfer, distillation, and drying.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Chemical Engineers evaluate chemical equipment and processes to identify ways to optimize performance or to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations. They might also prepare estimates of production costs and production progress reports for management.
In addition, they design and plan the layout of equipment.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them design measurement and control systems for chemical plants based on data collected in laboratory experiments and in pilot plant operations.
To some Chemical Engineers, it is also their responsibility to direct activities of workers who operate or are engaged in constructing and improving absorption, evaporation, or electromagnetic equipment.
Freedom to make decisions
How much decision making freedom does this job offer?
Structured vs unstructured work
To what extent is this job structured for you versus allowing you to determine your own tasks, priorities, and goals?
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What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
73% said they were satisfied with their job and 61% said they found their job meaningful.
I’m a Chemical Engineer. I’m currently working as Head of the Engineering and Planning department at Grupo Farma, a pharmaceutical company. I actually created it because they didn’t have one. So, things are pretty bumpy for me. I’m always walking around, talking to my team, and asking how they manage the tasks I’ve assigned. The rest of the time, I’m at my office talking with suppliers and planning our next moves to guarantee the operation of the laboratory and building in general.
Some of my responsibilities as head of the engineering and planning department are:
- Ensure that the building services work including, but not limited to electricity, gas, water, compressed air, argon (for the atomic absorption spectrophotometer), and nitrogen
and CO2 lines. These are all essential for the everyday tasks carried out in the laboratory and the rest of the departments. - Coordinate and supervise the maintenance, calibration, qualification, and verification of laboratory equipment and areas. This is done on an annual basis as per request by international
and local requirements that we must comply with. And to ensure that all the equipment is working as specified by the supplier; thereby, guaranteeing the production of pharmaceutical products of quality. - Plan and oversee any civil works needed to upgrade, repair, or expand the facility. For example, as we speak, many areas of the building are being remodeled to comply with international
regulations. My team and I are responsible for such works. - Be an active part of the planning for the release of new pharmaceutical products to the market. Even though I know little about medicines, I know a lot about market research, cost estimation, and project formulation and evaluation. Thus, I’m always part of the decision-making for new projects.
- Keep a database of all the laboratory equipment and their respective spare parts, as well as supervising the purchase of new lab equipment.
- Guarantee that the lab has enough supplies These are the most important responsibilities as they have a direct impact on the research, development, and production of products.
I don’t do everything by myself, of course. I delegate some tasks. But I always keep an eye on them. In the end, I’m the sole responsible for the work done by my team. So, yes, as you might imagine, my typical day is quite bumpy.
Supervising the instalation of an air treatment unit for a stability chamber
My typical day
The first thing I do is to check my whiteboard. Yes, it is a little ancient, I know. But it helps with planning. There I have my whole week’s plan (with predictable things, of course). Then I approach each member of my team to ask for an update on their assignments.
I go to my office afterward and start reviewing all documents my team submit for approval. However, I can hardly sit for one or two hours straight because something always happens. For example, three contractors came yesterday to give their estimates about some work that needs to be done. Thus, I had to explain what I wanted and show them where the work needs to be done.
Sometimes critical lab equipment breaks down. So I need to coordinate the repair efforts with the technicians. In short, I always have people coming over to repair, remodel, or deliver things.
I love being involved in planning and management, and that’s what I love the most about my job. Every day is different, and I get to work with a lot of people both inside and outside my company. I’m always learning new things about the pharmaceutical industry and how to improve our production processes.
Pros
- It is dynamic
- I’m always learning and adapting to comply with regulations
- I get to work with different people and get to know different perspectives
- Planning and evaluating new projects is very exciting, at least for me. But everything comes at a price, of course. Having so many responsibilities is quite demanding. Yes, I don’t do them all by myself. Like I said before. In the end, I’m the face of my department. Therefore, I need to guarantee that everything gets done in a timely matter and as requested.
Cons
- Physically demanding
- Most of the time, there are multiple projects happening at the same time. Thus, you are always working under pressure.
- Stressful
- A simple mistake has huge consequences
For me, the pros of my job outweigh, by far, the cons. That’s why I keep up with the everyday strain and hope to do it for a long time.
Steve Zhang
Steve is Head of the Engineering and Planning department at Grupo Farma, a pharmaceutical company. He writes about fishing on his blog LureMeFish.com which serves as a therapy to cope with his job.
Pros
Suitable for people who like to solve problems mentally.
Suitable for people who want recognition and wants career advancement and a prestigious career.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
One of the highest-paid careers in the world.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
It is hard to get into this career. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Chemical Engineers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $68,430 to $84,890 per year or $33 to $41 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $168,960 | $81 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $136,360 | $66 |
| Median | $108,540 | $52 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $84,890 | $41 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $68,430 | $33 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Chemical Engineers based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $150780 | $72.49 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $134830 | $64.82 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $129010 | $62.03 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | $124390 | $59.80 |
| Local Government | $121110 | $58.23 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $120600 | $57.98 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil | $119300 | $57.36 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | $118440 | $56.94 |
| Support Activities for Mining | $118370 | $56.91 |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $117930 | $56.70 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Chemical Engineers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Chemical Engineers including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Manufacturing | 8420 | $118440 | $56.94 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 2920 | $120600 | $57.98 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 2570 | $114580 | $55.09 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 1240 | $129010 | $62.03 |
| Federal Executive Branch | 1070 | $113450 | $54.54 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 900 | $134830 | $64.82 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | 760 | $109070 | $52.44 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 750 | $104600 | $50.29 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 670 | $74270 | $35.71 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | 510 | $100080 | $48.11 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
Work with group or team
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Deal with external customers
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Manage or lead others
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Telephone
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Group discussions
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Public speaking
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Frequency of conflict situations
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Dealing with angry people
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Dealing with physically aggressive people
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Level of competition
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Repetition in this job
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Impact of decisions on co-workers or company results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the reputation or financial resources of your employer?
Frequency of decision making
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Responsibility for others’ health and safety
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Responsibility for outcomes and results
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What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant work experience
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On The Job Training
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Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like working with ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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