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First, some facts. Of the Chemical Engineering graduates from University of California, Berkeley 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 12 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 82%, Chemical Engineering graduates from University of California, Berkeley have a much higher likelihood (+15%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:
And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.
Also, after graduating, 41% 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:
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Relevance score: 78% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.
DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2015 from University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelors Degree in Chemical Engineering. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONUnit Operations Laboratory, Undergraduate Research Assistant. Advisor: Dr. Colin Cerretani UC Berkeley Feb 2015 - Oct 2015 Manufacturing Associate BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. Aug 2016 - Feb 2018 Food Server  Marin Brewing Company Aug 2018 - Feb 2020 GMP Mass Spectrometry Technician I LGC, Biosearch Technologies May 2020 - Jul 2021 Research Engineer SRI International May 2022 - Present ABOUTI am recent graduate (2015) of the undergraduate chemical engineering program at the University of California, Berkeley; with an interest in cell culture process development, fermentation, beer brewing as well as anything that can positively effect people and/or the environment. I am also a musician, actor, active soccer player, backpacker, gardener, fisherman and homebrewer. I have been homebrewing beer and cider since 2013 and have built most of the equipment I use; including a fermentation chamber.I started going to Santa Rosa Junior College in 2006 after leaving high school, with not much of an idea of what I wanted to do and I didn't really start figuring out until 2010 after becoming more invested in organic farming and having a positive effect on the environment. I was pursuing a degree in environmental engineering until I took organic chemistry and realized that I hadn't taken enough biology to pursue environmental engineering at a university so I started to pursue chemical engineering and renewable energy. In particular I was interested in Algae based biodiesel. I was accepted by UC Berkeley in 2013 and quickly learned that most research in renewable energy was in genetically engineered or enhanced e.coli and yeast using biomass feed stocks to produce biofuels and other typically petrol based chemicals. I became more focused on fermentation science and beer brewing. I focused my energy at school on having fun, getting good grades and research. In particular, I was instrumental in creating a chemical engineering and fermentation experiment for students to monitor yeast growth and brew beer; in order for students to develop a better understanding of fermentation processes. For my synthetic biology class, I organized and managed our group project to create Cyanidin using brewers yeast as a chassis. In the same class, for my individual research project, I wrote a paper on how to use brewers yeast to create terpenes' commonly found in hops used in beer. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
When looking at the LinkedIn jobs held by graduates from the University of California, Berkeley with degrees in Chemical Engineering, a few common themes pop up. Many alumni work in research and development roles, especially in the battery and pharmaceutical industries, where their educational background is applied to real-world problems. Positions such as Battery R&D at Bosch and Associate Scientist roles at companies like AbbVie or Pfizer show that there's a solid connection between their studies and their jobs. These roles typically require a strong grasp of chemical processes, materials, and engineering principles, indicating a relevant use of their degree.
However, not all jobs fit this mold. Some graduates end up in roles like Application Engineers and Sales Advisors, where they use minimal chemical engineering knowledge and skills. A few also branch into management or technical consulting positions that don’t fully utilize their engineering backgrounds, focusing more on operational or business aspects instead. All in all, while there are plenty of relevant positions that align well with their degrees, and many graduates do find work directly related to chemical engineering, there are also a noticeable number who divert into areas that are only tangentially related or completely separate from chemical engineering. So, if you’re thinking about pursuing a degree in this field, it's good to know that your degree opens various doors, but those doors may not always lead to traditional chemical engineering roles.
Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Chemical Engineering graduates (this is across all Chemical Engineering graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of California, Berkeley):
Graduates from the Chemical Engineering program at UC Berkeley often kick off their careers in roles that leverage their technical skills, especially in industries tied closely to engineering and technology. A lot of them land their first jobs as application engineers, manufacturing associates, or research assistants right after graduation, indicating a trend towards practical, hands-on work in the field. This strong start generally sets a solid foundation for their careers, with many sticking to roles that maintain a direct connection to chemical engineering, such as research scientists or project engineers. In fact, several alumni have been able to rise through the ranks to senior management or specialized roles over the years, showcasing a commendable trajectory of growth and development.
Fast forward about five to ten years, and you'll typically find these graduates advancing into more senior or specialized positions. For instance, many who started as associate scientists or engineers have transitioned into senior roles, such as a Senior Manager of Project Development or Senior Associate Scientist. Some have even ventured into cutting-edge research fields, like those working in battery technology or pharmaceuticals. While there are a few instances of folks exploring unrelated fields, like sales or serving in restaurants, the majority have managed to stay relevant to their degree. Overall, it appears that UC Berkeley Chemical Engineering grads generally enjoy successful, fulfilling careers that are well-aligned with their studies, contributing to innovative advancements in various sectors.
A Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering at UC Berkeley is definitely on the challenging side, if we're being honest. You’ll be diving into some pretty intense math and science courses, like calculus, thermodynamics, and reaction engineering, which can be tough to wrap your head around. The workload is often heavy, with problem sets, lab work, and projects that really push you to grasp complex concepts. That said, if you have a passion for chemistry and enjoy problem-solving, it can also be super rewarding! Just keep in mind that it’s definitely not a walk in the park compared to some other majors.
Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering.
Looking at the job trajectories of these Chemical Engineering grads from UC Berkeley, it seems like most of them are doing pretty well financially. Many of them have taken on roles that escalate in responsibility and pay, especially those at major companies like Genentech and Pfizer. For example, the grads who stayed in the Aerospace field or moved up in positions like "Senior Manager" or "Research Scientist" likely have solid salaries, especially considering the tech and pharma industries often pay well. Even though some started with internships or entry-level positions, they've generally made meaningful climbs in their careers. So, all in all, they probably aren’t struggling too much financially!
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 is across all Chemical Engineering graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of California, Berkeley). This may or may not be useful:
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:
