What can you do with a Chemical Engineering degree?

First, some facts. Of the Chemical Engineering graduates we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 1808 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 76%, Chemical Engineering graduates have a higher likelihood (+9%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 76%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, 37% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Chemical Engineering graduate.

See the details:

View a random Chemical Engineering graduate and our analysis:


Relevance score: 0%

We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2014 from University of Tehran with a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Digital Marketing Specialist
Sheypoor |
Apr 2017 - Jun 2018
The role of Digital Marketing Specialist does not require any specific knowledge or skills from a Chemical Engineering degree, making it unrelated to the field.

Search Engine Optimization Manager
Sheypoor |
Jun 2018 - May 2019
As a Search Engine Optimization Manager, the position focuses on digital marketing strategies that do not use any Chemical Engineering skills or knowledge, thus making it irrelevant to the degree.

Digital Marketing Manager
Midas Digital Agency
Jun 2019 - Present
The role of Digital Marketing Manager lacks the connection to Chemical Engineering, as it primarily relies on marketing and digital skills not directly related to the degree field.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master of Business Administration - MBA
University of Tehran
2016 - 2018
ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Chemical Engineering degree?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


When we look at the various career paths taken by graduates with degrees in Chemical Engineering, a few trends become evident. Primarily, many of these individuals pursue roles that are closely aligned with the skills and knowledge they acquired during their studies. Common positions include Process Engineer, Quality Engineer, and Research Scientist. These roles typically focus on applying chemical engineering principles in areas such as manufacturing, product development, and research, which make them highly relevant to the educational background of these graduates. Moreover, many people engage in roles within the pharmaceutical and energy sectors, where chemical engineering knowledge is extremely valuable.

Despite this, it's important to note that not all graduates apply their degree directly in their chosen career paths. Some wind up in positions that are less connected to the core principles of chemical engineering, such as project management or consulting roles that focus more on business and operational aspects rather than technical engineering skills. For example, there are graduates who have taken on roles like Sales Engineer or Program Manager, which, while they may utilize some skills developed during their education, do not necessarily require a strong foundation in chemical engineering principles. Additionally, roles in diverse fields such as teaching, management, or software development showcase a varying level of relevance to their degrees.

In summary, while most Chemical Engineering graduates tend to find work that closely relates to their training, a significant number also take paths that either utilize only certain skills from their education or completely diverge from chemical engineering itself. This indicates that while a Chemical Engineering degree lays a strong foundation, the career trajectory can be shaped by personal interests and market opportunities, leading to a broad range of job relevance.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Chemical Engineering graduates:

What kind of career trajectories do Chemical Engineering graduates have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Analyzing the career trajectories of graduates in chemical engineering reveals some interesting trends about what these folks tend to do right after college, five years later, and even ten years down the road. Generally speaking, many of these graduates seem to land solid positions in the chemical engineering field shortly after graduation, particularly in roles tied directly to their degree. For example, many start as process engineers, research assistants, or engineers in training. It’s pretty common for them to kick off their careers in technical roles that allow them to get hands-on experience and gradually climb the ladder of responsibility.

If we look at career paths five to ten years post-graduation, we can see some impressive progression. Many graduates tend to remain in relevant fields, taking on more complex roles, moving into management, or specializing in areas like research and development. A consistent presence of individuals moving into senior positions like senior engineers, project managers, or consultants indicates a healthy progression within the industry. Moreover, there's a notable shift from purely engineering roles to roles that incorporate elements of management or consulting as these professionals gain experience and develop their networks. However, there are also those who take tangential paths, venturing into areas such as sales, regulatory affairs, or even entirely different fields, reflecting a mix of success and some level of career diversification away from traditional engineering roles.

That said, not every chemical engineering graduate seems to stick to their field. There are a surprising number who end up in roles that don’t seem directly related to chemical engineering—like sales representatives, customer service agents, or even educators. This could suggest that while a chemical engineering degree has its perks, it might not always guarantee a straightforward and linear career within the discipline. However, for those who stay the course within engineering, the prospects seem quite strong, often leading to satisfying and well-respected positions in the industry. Overall, it appears that a degree in chemical engineering provides a solid foundation for a variety of career paths, but it’s ultimately up to the individual to decide how closely tied they want to stay to that initial path.

How hard is a Chemical Engineering degree?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering can be pretty challenging, definitely on the harder side compared to many other majors. It’s packed with tough math, physics, and chemistry courses that really push your critical thinking skills. You’ll spend a lot of time solving complex problems and working on projects that require a solid understanding of several scientific concepts working together. If you're someone who enjoys science and math and doesn't mind digging into some intense coursework, you'll probably find it fulfilling, but be prepared to put in the time and effort—it's no walk in the park!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering.

Do Chemical Engineering graduates tend to make good money?

When looking at the career paths of these chemical engineering graduates, you can see a pretty decent range of job titles and companies, especially for those who graduated from top universities. Many of them worked at well-known companies like ExxonMobil, Procter & Gamble, and Amazon, indicating that they likely have solid salary packages. The progression from roles like engineer intern to senior positions or consultants also suggests that they have found ways to move up in their careers, which usually comes with corresponding pay increases.

However, it’s worth noting that not every graduate seems to have landed high-paying roles immediately post-graduation, especially those from lesser-known institutions or those starting in part-time positions or internships. Some appear to be on career paths that might not lead to high salaries for a while, like those working as teaching assistants or in less specialized roles. Overall, while many seem to be making a decent income, the financial trajectory can vary quite a bit depending on the college, industry, and individual job choices made after graduation.

What buzzwords do Chemical Engineering graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering. This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Chemical Engineering?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering (ordered by the average relevance score of their Chemical Engineering graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
Northeastern University 91 11
Rochester Institute of Technology 90 10
Clarkson University 90 10
University of Cincinnati 89 16
Oklahoma State University 88 10
Purdue University 87 20
University of Arkansas 87 13
North Carolina State University 86 22
Arizona State University 85 13
University of Wisconsin-Madison 85 13
University of Delaware 85 13
University at Buffalo 83 10
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 83 13
University of California, Berkeley 82 12
Villanova University 82 10
Montana State University-Bozeman 82 13
Louisiana State University 81 15
The Ohio State University 80 36
Texas A&M University 79 37
Brigham Young University 79 14
University of Arizona 79 15
University of Oklahoma 79 13
University of Massachusetts Lowell 79 12
Michigan Technological University 78 22
Auburn University 76 20
Iowa State University 75 18
Georgia Institute of Technology 74 11
University of California, Davis 73 20
University of Houston 73 17
University of Pittsburgh 73 21
University of Virginia 73 12
Michigan State University 72 24
Oregon State University 72 20
University of Dayton 72 12
Penn State University 71 21
The University of Texas at Austin 71 24
University of Washington 71 10
University of Iowa 71 10
University of Connecticut 70 11
The University of Alabama 69 10
New Jersey Institute of Technology 69 12
Colorado School of Mines 69 21
University of Florida 68 20
Virginia Tech 68 16
Mississippi State University 68 15
University of Notre Dame 68 10
University of Kentucky 67 11
Worcester Polytechnic Institute 67 16
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 66 11
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 65 16
University of Michigan 62 21
The University of Kansas 62 11
Missouri University of Science and Technology 60 14
University of South Florida 58 14
University of California, San Diego 56 12