The national median salary for chemical engineers is $125,040, with a salary spread of $103,460 from the 10th to 90th percentile -- a 83% range that reflects differences in experience, location, and industry. The mean salary of $129,980 is higher than the median, indicating that top earners pull the average upward. The highest-paying metro area is Albuquerque, NM, where the median reaches $163,380.
| City | Median | P25 | P75 | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | $163,380 | $86,100 | $163,380 | 80 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $152,290 | $96,720 | $174,940 | 110 |
| Fort Collins, CO | $139,220 | $101,510 | $139,220 | 40 |
| Houston, TX | $138,120 | $126,290 | $178,720 | 1,510 |
| Mobile, AL | $137,170 | $103,940 | $137,170 | 150 |
| New Orleans, LA | $136,870 | $106,140 | $164,440 | 190 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $136,810 | $115,530 | $177,790 | 100 |
| Trenton, NJ | $135,110 | $104,330 | $176,880 | 40 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $134,800 | $107,790 | $165,580 | 360 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $134,210 | $100,680 | $168,110 | 320 |
| Rochester, NY | $133,740 | $127,090 | $133,740 | -- |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $133,450 | $106,850 | $166,480 | 110 |
| Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | $132,820 | $97,820 | $162,260 | 640 |
| Toledo, OH | $132,760 | $111,180 | $174,680 | 70 |
| Portland, OR-WA | $131,690 | $109,050 | $164,390 | 70 |
| Dallas, TX | $130,520 | $105,060 | $168,960 | 130 |
| Kennewick, WA | $130,030 | $100,820 | $166,910 | 320 |
| Beaumont, TX | $129,850 | $107,420 | $166,250 | 140 |
| Austin, TX | $129,790 | $98,490 | $213,680 | 60 |
| Charleston, SC | $129,070 | $93,340 | $145,460 | 50 |
| Albany, NY | $129,060 | $93,970 | $146,180 | 40 |
| Wichita, KS | $128,780 | $98,430 | $161,350 | -- |
| Baltimore, MD | $128,610 | $80,830 | $156,750 | 180 |
| Denver, CO | $128,110 | $100,780 | $152,730 | 410 |
| Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $127,770 | $97,660 | $161,550 | 790 |
| Tulsa, OK | $127,360 | $107,880 | $174,140 | 50 |
| New York, NY-NJ | $126,830 | $95,480 | $149,210 | 510 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $126,690 | $100,040 | $153,170 | 100 |
| Boulder, CO | $125,800 | $82,740 | $158,940 | 190 |
| Seattle, WA | $125,200 | $105,430 | $151,540 | 230 |
| Dayton, OH | $123,860 | $99,870 | $158,000 | 50 |
| Minneapolis, MN-WI | $122,730 | $90,980 | $172,090 | 170 |
| Evansville, IN | $120,990 | $105,410 | $164,530 | 60 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $118,010 | $104,030 | $119,030 | -- |
| Durham, NC | $117,440 | $102,410 | $143,040 | 110 |
| Richmond, VA | $117,150 | $82,270 | $125,390 | 60 |
| Charlotte, NC-SC | $115,890 | $100,780 | $141,840 | 110 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $114,800 | $95,870 | $152,170 | 100 |
| Buffalo, NY | $112,770 | $87,840 | $144,600 | 70 |
| Miami, FL | $111,980 | $95,980 | $115,600 | 50 |
| Peoria, IL | $111,880 | $97,470 | $122,740 | 30 |
| Raleigh, NC | $111,210 | $94,460 | $146,210 | 90 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $110,960 | $89,990 | $122,060 | 40 |
| Columbus, OH | $110,860 | $90,930 | $148,310 | 170 |
| Springfield, MA | $110,770 | $87,600 | $127,900 | 40 |
| Chicago, IL-IN | $110,760 | $94,170 | $139,520 | 370 |
| Tampa, FL | $110,000 | $101,040 | $130,840 | 30 |
| Boston, MA-NH | $109,460 | $79,110 | $144,030 | 910 |
| Columbus, IN | $109,190 | $109,190 | $121,750 | 40 |
| Decatur, AL | $109,160 | $107,880 | $140,690 | 60 |
| Akron, OH | $108,710 | $96,170 | $169,540 | 40 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $108,570 | $79,690 | $128,690 | 30 |
| Cleveland, OH | $108,350 | $97,700 | $126,260 | 240 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $107,610 | $78,730 | $131,490 | 300 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $107,240 | $98,490 | $132,950 | 80 |
| Providence, RI-MA | $106,950 | $80,120 | $145,470 | 80 |
| Riverside, CA | $106,200 | $98,990 | $131,230 | -- |
| Detroit, MI | $104,230 | $90,710 | $125,400 | 220 |
| Worcester, MA | $104,060 | $97,560 | $127,190 | 260 |
| Atlanta, GA | $103,520 | $83,310 | $132,980 | 230 |
| New Haven, CT | $102,850 | $101,420 | $119,080 | 60 |
| Little Rock, AR | $102,590 | $80,230 | $129,520 | 60 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $102,320 | $101,810 | $128,530 | 380 |
| Norwich, CT | $101,750 | $86,570 | $103,610 | 50 |
| Huntsville, AL | $101,480 | $80,720 | $131,680 | 60 |
| Hartford, CT | $101,410 | $86,580 | $139,840 | 180 |
| Reading, PA | $100,190 | $82,000 | $100,190 | 50 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $98,480 | $78,850 | $133,180 | 90 |
| Gulfport, MS | $98,350 | $84,390 | $130,630 | 40 |
| Ogden, UT | $98,090 | $81,890 | $125,510 | 80 |
| Madison, WI | $97,190 | $83,550 | $113,690 | -- |
| Kalamazoo, MI | $96,190 | $82,750 | $109,720 | 50 |
| Greenville, SC | $86,820 | $80,860 | $119,590 | 60 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $85,520 | $85,520 | $110,190 | -- |
| Provo, UT | $81,840 | $81,840 | $81,840 | 90 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $78,660 | $62,250 | $116,230 | 50 |
| Lansing, MI | $66,230 | $66,230 | $66,230 | 50 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS. This data reflects occupational employment and wage estimates and may not capture total compensation including equity, bonuses, or benefits.