The chemical engineer, with a bachelors degree, is usually paid very well. While this may be partly because of a broad background in science and engineering, it also has a lot to do with the type of industries that employ chemical engineers. About half of today's chemical engineers work in the petroleum and petrochemical industry. Often these industries require enormously expensive capital equipment, and therefor employee salaries becomes a much smaller part of the overall cost of doing business. Because of this, it makes good sense for these companies to pay handsomely to get the best person for the job.
"Enough already...go to the bottom."
Figure 6-1, Source: "US Bureau of the Census, Historical Abstract 1993."
One interesting trend in these wage figures is the relatively low salary increase chemical engineers receive by acquiring higher degrees. In some professions, such as chemistry, it makes a lot of financial sense to attain the highest degree possible. However, this is not necessarily the case for chemical engineers.
Figure 6-2, Source: "US Bureau of the Census, Historical Abstract 1993."
It is also informative to examine the number of degrees awarded to each of these professions over the last thirty years or so. In the 1980's the personal computer craze fueled an incredible surge in the number of computer science degrees. The PC also dramatically increased the number of electrical engineering graduates. An unrelated, but interesting point, is the number of chemistry majors which go on to get their Ph.D. degrees. Chemists undoubtedly are very aware of how their pay scale is structured and try to take advantage of that insight. Chemical engineers are also aware of this, and those who go on to higher education do not usually stop at a Master's degree.
Figure 6-3, Source: "US Bureau of the Census."
Figure 6-4, Source: "US Bureau of the Census."
Figure 6-5, Source: "US Bureau of the Census."
Figure 6-6, Source: "US Bureau of the Census."
Table
of Contents 
A
Century of Contributions Oil,
Energy, & Petrochemicals 
Petroleum:
Origins of the Industry Chemical
Engineering Timeline "The end already...go back to the top."
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Last updated on 4/4/98 by Wayne Pafko...
