Chemical Engineering Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Application of chemistry, physics, and math to design processes for producing chemicals, fuels, and materials.
Starting Salary
$78K
median
Mid-Career
$120K
salary
ROI Payback
3.2 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
2.5%
rate
Chemical Engineering Overview
Application of chemistry, physics, and math to design processes for producing chemicals, fuels, and materials.
Category
Engineering
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
66%
Enrollment Trend
stable
Online Available
Limited
Underemployment
10%
Lifetime Premium
$1050K
Female Graduates
35%
Chemical Engineering Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$21,600
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$21,600
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$1,028,400
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,050,000) minus net degree cost ($21,600)
Chemical Engineering Salary Progression
Common Chemical Engineering Careers
Chemical Engineer
Process Engineer
Plant Manager
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Chemical Engineering
#1
MIT
#2
Stanford
#3
Caltech
#4
UC Berkeley
#5
Georgia Tech
Related Majors
Chemical Engineering Degree FAQ
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