Becoming a Chemical Engineer via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Western Governors University
is a US school (accredited) offering chemistry courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
chemists,
biochemists,
analytical research chemists,
chemistry professors,
chemistry instructors, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 29,000 people employed as
chemical engineers alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$91,670.
Nuclear engineers make on average $100,350
per year and there are about 16,710
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Western Governors University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Chemical Engineer
- Petroleum company
- Utility company
- University
- Manufacturing company
- Agricultural company
- Biotechnology company
- Chemical company
- Research institution
- Government office
- Engineering firm
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Chemical Engineer
- Good salary
- Play a valuable role in company
- Become an expert in the field of chemicals
- Operate and maintain plant
- Job security
- Develop new technologies and products
- Sought after position
- Wide variety of career directions
- Good job benefits
- Work independently
Potential Drawbacks
- Troubleshoot problems in manufacturing process
- Use of potentially dangerous equipment
- Long hours
- Lots of schooling required
- Multiple areas of work
- Deadline pressures
- Regularly develop more efficient processes
- Dangers of working with chemicals
- Prepare cost and progress reports
- Develop safety procedures to avoid accidents
Related Professions to Consider
- Laboratory Technician
- Engineering Manager
- Agricultural Engineer
- Automotive Engineer
- Product Safety Engineer
- Soil and Water Conservationist
- Geoscientist
- Formulation Chemical Process Engineer
- Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician
- Forester
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Chemical Engineer
- What is your educational background?
- Why did you choose chemical engineering?
- What companies have you previously worked for?
- What are some of your strengths and weaknesses?
- Do you have a solid knowledge of computers?
- What are you looking for in a job?
- Are you looking for long term employment?
- What unique skills or knowledge can you contribute to our company?
- What salary are you seeking?
- Do you have strong communication skills?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Mechanical Engineers
- Physicians
- Biologists
- Research Scientists
- Lab Technicians
- Agricultural Engineers
- Food Scientists
- Astronauts
- Aeronautical Engineers
- Environmental Engineers
Chemical Engineer Training books
Chemical Engineer (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Statistics
- Nuclear Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Polymer Processing
- Theoretical Chemistry
- Quantum Chemistry
- Environmental Chemistry
- Physical Chemistry
- Pharmacology
Chemical Engineer Salary Information
Category: Chemical engineers
| Total # Employed in the US |
29,000 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$44.07/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $26.97 |
$33.82 |
$42.44 |
$52.15 |
$63.93 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$91,670 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $56,090 |
$70,350 |
$88,280 |
$108,470 |
$132,980 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.2% |
1.9% |
4.5% |
2.6% |
60.3% |
23.4% |
7.1% |
|
Chemical engineers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Alaska |
$60.49/hr
|
$125,820
|
| District of Columbia |
$55.9/hr
|
$116,280
|
| Iowa |
$54.14/hr
|
$112,610
|
| Florida |
$50.11/hr
|
$104,220
|
| Wyoming |
$47.63/hr
|
$99,070
|
| Mississippi |
$47.48/hr
|
$98,750
|
| Colorado |
$47.24/hr
|
$98,260
|
| South Dakota |
$47.22/hr
|
$98,210
|
| Connecticut |
$46.96/hr
|
$97,670
|
| Massachusetts |
$46.89/hr
|
$97,540
|
| North Dakota |
$46.31/hr
|
$96,330
|
| Michigan |
$45.32/hr
|
$94,270
|
| Ohio |
$45.19/hr
|
$94,000
|
| Maine |
$44.38/hr
|
$92,310
|
| Wisconsin |
$44.12/hr
|
$91,770
|
| California |
$43.75/hr
|
$91,000
|
| Missouri |
$42.94/hr
|
$89,320
|
| Oklahoma |
$42.72/hr
|
$88,860
|
| Maryland |
$42.24/hr
|
$87,850
|
| Hawaii |
$42.08/hr
|
$87,520
|
| Washington |
$41.55/hr
|
$86,420
|
| Alabama |
$41.45/hr
|
$86,220
|
| Guam |
$41.44/hr
|
$86,190
|
| South Carolina |
$41.21/hr
|
$85,720
|
| Nevada |
$40.85/hr
|
$84,970
|
| New Hampshire |
$40.72/hr
|
$84,700
|
| Tennessee |
$40.55/hr
|
$84,340
|
| Kansas |
$40.52/hr
|
$84,280
|
| Oregon |
$40.07/hr
|
$83,340
|
| Delaware |
$39.69/hr
|
$82,560
|
| Kentucky |
$39.61/hr
|
$82,390
|
| Utah |
$39.49/hr
|
$82,140
|
| Montana |
$39.41/hr
|
$81,980
|
| Louisiana |
$39.06/hr
|
$81,250
|
| New York |
$37.93/hr
|
$78,890
|
| New Jersey |
$37.59/hr
|
$78,180
|
| Arkansas |
$36.92/hr
|
$76,800
|
| North Carolina |
$35.07/hr
|
$72,950
|
| Nebraska |
$34.79/hr
|
$72,370
|
| Idaho |
$34.12/hr
|
$70,960
|
| New Mexico |
$32.28/hr
|
$67,140
|
Category: Nuclear engineers
| Total # Employed in the US |
16,710 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$48.25/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $32.01 |
$39.16 |
$46.59 |
$55.28 |
$67.38 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$100,350 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $66,590 |
$81,460 |
$96,910 |
$114,990 |
$140,140 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.3% |
3.8% |
7.8% |
7.8% |
48.3% |
25.8% |
6.3% |
|
Nuclear engineers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Wisconsin |
$61.18/hr
|
$127,250
|
| Ohio |
$56.79/hr
|
$118,130
|
| Iowa |
$56.52/hr
|
$117,550
|
| Maine |
$53.51/hr
|
$111,290
|
| Kansas |
$52.99/hr
|
$110,220
|
| Wyoming |
$52.81/hr
|
$109,840
|
| Mississippi |
$52/hr
|
$108,160
|
| Colorado |
$51.11/hr
|
$106,320
|
| Missouri |
$50.18/hr
|
$104,380
|
| North Dakota |
$49.43/hr
|
$102,810
|
| Oklahoma |
$48.71/hr
|
$101,310
|
| Utah |
$46.73/hr
|
$97,190
|
| Montana |
$45.77/hr
|
$95,190
|
| Hawaii |
$45.6/hr
|
$94,850
|
| Arkansas |
$43.44/hr
|
$90,360
|
| Washington |
$43.32/hr
|
$90,110
|
| Oregon |
$43.25/hr
|
$89,950
|
| South Carolina |
$41.97/hr
|
$87,300
|
| New York |
$41.29/hr
|
$85,880
|
| California |
$40.74/hr
|
$84,730
|
| Maryland |
$37.13/hr
|
$77,240
|
Category: Petroleum engineers
| Total # Employed in the US |
25,540 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$57.67/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $28.17 |
$38.37 |
$52.36 |
$72.26 |
$0.0 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$119,960 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $58,600 |
$79,810 |
$108,910 |
$150,310 |
$0 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.4% |
4.8% |
7.1% |
6.5% |
54.8% |
20.1% |
6.4% |
|
Petroleum engineers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| California |
$86.61/hr
|
$180,150
|
| Pennsylvania |
$78.39/hr
|
$163,060
|
| Alaska |
$74.28/hr
|
$154,500
|
| Connecticut |
$65.7/hr
|
$136,650
|
| Colorado |
$61.97/hr
|
$128,890
|
| Wyoming |
$60.69/hr
|
$126,240
|
| South Dakota |
$53.07/hr
|
$110,390
|
| Guam |
$51.62/hr
|
$107,360
|
| North Dakota |
$51.59/hr
|
$107,300
|
| Maine |
$47.94/hr
|
$99,710
|
| Massachusetts |
$47.86/hr
|
$99,550
|
| Ohio |
$47.54/hr
|
$98,870
|
| South Carolina |
$46.31/hr
|
$96,320
|
| Maryland |
$46.12/hr
|
$95,920
|
| Montana |
$45.53/hr
|
$94,710
|
| New Jersey |
$44.91/hr
|
$93,410
|
| Utah |
$42.67/hr
|
$88,750
|
| Alabama |
$38.46/hr
|
$79,990
|
| Nevada |
$37.99/hr
|
$79,010
|
| New Hampshire |
$36.73/hr
|
$76,390
|
| Kansas |
$35.93/hr
|
$74,720
|
