Chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry, physics, and engineering to design equipment and processes for manufacturing products such as gasoline, detergents, and paper. They work in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, design and construction, pulp and paper, petrochemicals, food processing, specialty chemicals, microelectronics, electronic and advanced materials, polymers, business services, biotechnology, and environmental health and safety industries, among others. Some specific job functions of chemical engineers include:

• Conducting research to develop new and improved manufacturing processes
• Designing and planning the layout of equipment and processes
• Ensuring compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations
• Incorporating safety procedures for working with dangerous chemicals
• Monitoring and optimizing the performance of production processes
• Estimating production costs

Chemical engineers typically work in an office setting or in laboratories. They can also work in the industry, academia, consulting, law, medicine, finance, and other fields. To enter the occupation, chemical engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering or a related field. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have gained experience in an internship or a cooperative education program. The median annual wage for chemical engineers was $106,260 in May 2022, and employment of chemical engineers is projected to grow 8 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.