What can you do with a Chemical Engineering degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison?

First, some facts. Of the Chemical Engineering graduates from University of Wisconsin-Madison 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 13 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 85%, Chemical Engineering graduates from University of Wisconsin-Madison have a much higher likelihood (+18%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 85%
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, only 15% 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 a Bachelors degree is enough for most Chemical Engineering graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Chemical Engineering graduate from University of Wisconsin-Madison and our analysis:


Relevance score: 69%

We think this person has gone into a career only somewhat relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2022 from University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Field Engineer
Webber
Jun 2023 - Feb 2024
The position of Field Engineer at Webber may involve some engineering principles applicable to chemical engineering projects, but it is not directly focused on the core qualifications and daily use of chemical engineering skills.

Chemical Engineer I
Honeywell
Mar 2024 - Present
As a Chemical Engineer I at Honeywell, this job directly employs the skills and knowledge developed through the Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, requiring expertise in chemical processes and applications on a daily basis.

ABOUT

As a Chemical Engineer I in the Early Career Program at Honeywell UOP, I am learning valuable skills related to chemical process technology. After one year in the program, I will transition to Field Operating Service, where I will travel to refineries around the world to advise on start-up, shut-down, and maintenance of those process technologies.I previously held the position of Field Engineer at Ferrovial Webber Energy, where I applied my engineering knowledge and skills to support various mechanical aspects of construction on a 72 MW solar photovoltaic power plant. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering in 2022. During my studies, I gained a solid foundation in thermodynamics, material science, fluid dynamics, heat transfer, process control and automation, and other core chemical engineering topics. I am passionate about learning new technologies and processes, and I am eager to apply these skills at Honeywell UOP.

What jobs can you get with a Chemical Engineering degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison?

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


Based on the LinkedIn profiles of graduates from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Chemical Engineering, it's clear that many of the most common job titles include Process Engineer and roles in technical support or management within chemical and manufacturing companies. These positions, such as the various roles at Flint Hills Resources and Zoetis, heavily rely on the principles and practices learned during their degrees. Graduates generally find themselves in roles that are closely aligned with their field of study, especially in engineering roles like Chemical Engineer or Process Engineer. These jobs typically emphasize process design, optimization, validation, and technical support, making them very relevant to Chemical Engineering.

However, there are also instances of graduates taking on roles that are less directly tied to the core aspects of Chemical Engineering. For example, positions such as Data Scientist or Technical Solutions Engineer involve skills that can be related to engineering; however, they don't necessarily require the in-depth chemical engineering knowledge that their degrees provide. Overall, while many graduates are successfully applying their education in settings that require substantial chemical engineering expertise, there is a noticeable variation in relevance for some roles that veer outside traditional engineering applications. Still, it's impressive to see that a significant portion of the jobs directly involves the skills and knowledge essential for Chemical Engineering, allowing these graduates to utilize their education effectively in the workforce.

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 Wisconsin-Madison):

What kind of career trajectories do Chemical Engineering graduates from University of Wisconsin-Madison have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

From what I've gathered about Chemical Engineering graduates from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, it looks like they generally kick off their careers in positions that are highly relevant to their field. Many start out as process engineers, working on optimizing production processes in various industries like petrochemicals and pharmaceuticals. For instance, one graduate has been a process engineer at Flint Hills Resources since graduating in 2014 and has steadily advanced in his role. Similarly, others have entered roles like technical specialists and validation engineers, which align well with their training. It seems like their first jobs right after graduating are often in engineering or technical roles that leverage their chemical engineering skills.

Fast forward a few years—most graduates appear to be progressing nicely in their careers. By five years out, many are moving into more advanced positions, like becoming managers or specialists with greater responsibilities. People who graduated a bit later, even as recent as 2022 and 2023, are also landing solid roles in reputable companies like Ecolab and Honeywell. This suggests that they have a good career trajectory ahead of them, often gradually taking on more complex roles or moving into entirely new but still related fields, such as data science or process verification. Overall, it looks like a lot of these grads are finding good opportunities that keep them in the engineering realm, rather than straying into unrelated careers, which is definitely a positive sign for anyone considering this path!

How hard is a Chemical Engineering degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, like the one at University of Wisconsin-Madison, is pretty challenging—definitely on the tougher side of the spectrum. You’re going to be diving into a lot of complex subjects like thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and reaction engineering, which can be pretty heavy stuff. There's also a strong emphasis on math and science, so if those aren't your favorite subjects, you might find it a bit overwhelming. That said, students do find it rewarding if they’re passionate about the material! It’s a rigorous program, but with hard work and good time management, it's totally doable. Just be prepared to put in some serious study hours!

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 from University of Wisconsin-Madison tend to make good money?

So, looking at these Chemical Engineering grads from Wisconsin-Madison, it seems like they're generally doing pretty well financially. Most of them have landed solid engineering roles, often climbing the ranks fairly quickly, which usually indicates good pay. For example, the folks who stayed with Flint Hills Resources for several years and moved up in titles likely saw nice salary increases over time. Even the recent grads who are stepping into roles like “Chemical Engineer I” and “Technical Solutions Engineer” are entering fields that usually pay decent to high salaries. Overall, it looks like these graduates are on a promising path to making some good money in their careers!

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 is across all Chemical Engineering graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of Wisconsin-Madison). 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