Details Report for:
17-2041.00 - Chemical Engineers
Design chemical plant equipment and devise processes for manufacturing chemicals and products, such as gasoline, synthetic rubber, plastics, detergents, cement, paper, and pulp, by applying principles and technology of chemistry, physics, and engineering.
Sample of reported job titles: Chemical Engineer, Development Engineer, Engineer, Engineering Scientist, Process Control Engineer, Process Engineer, Project Engineer, Refinery Process Engineer, Research Chemical Engineer, Scientist
Tasks | Technology Skills | Tools Used | Knowledge | Skills | Abilities | Work Activities | Detailed Work Activities | Work Context | Job Zone | Education | Credentials | Interests | Work Styles | Work Values | Related Occupations | Wages & Employment | Job Openings | Additional Information
Tasks Save Table (XLS/CSV)
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Category | Task |
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89 ![]() ![]() |
Core | |
88 ![]() ![]() |
Core | |
85 ![]() ![]() |
Core | |
80 ![]() ![]() |
Core | |
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Core | |
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73 ![]() ![]() |
Core | |
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Core | |
70 ![]() ![]() |
Core | |
69 ![]() ![]() |
Core | |
69 ![]() ![]() |
Core | |
65 ![]() ![]() |
Core |
Technology Skills Save Table (XLS/CSV)
- Analytical or scientific software — EPCON International CHEMPRO Engineering Suite; Minitab
; Statistical software; The MathWorks MATLAB
(see all 26 examples)
- Computer aided design CAD software — Autodesk AutoCAD
; CD-adapco STAR-CAD; Dassault Systemes CATIA; PTC Creo Parametric (see all 7 examples)
- Data base user interface and query software — Data entry software
; Microsoft Access
; Relational database software; Structured query language SQL
(see all 6 examples)
- Desktop publishing software
- Development environment software — C; Microsoft Visual Basic
; National Instruments LabVIEW
- Electronic mail software — Microsoft Exchange
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software — SAP
- Financial analysis software — Chempute Software EstPro
- Graphics or photo imaging software — Chempute Software ChemDraw; Microsoft Visio
- Industrial control software — GE Fanuc Proficy Machine Edition; Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Object or component oriented development software — C++
; Microsoft Visual C# .NET; R
- Office suite software — Microsoft Office
- Presentation software — Microsoft PowerPoint
- Project management software — Microsoft Project
- Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel
- Word processing software — Microsoft Word
Hot Technology — a technology requirement frequently included in employer job postings.
Tools Used Save Table (XLS/CSV)
- Benchtop centrifuges
- Bi distillation units — Distillation systems
- Catalytic combustion analyzers — Catalytic reactors
- Chemical absorption gas analyzers — Gas absorbers
- Chromatographic scanners — Chromatographic scanning equipment
- Dewatering equipment — Sludge dryers
- Distillation pipings or columns or fittings — Distillation columns
- Freezedryers or lyophilzers — Lyophilizers
- Goggles — Safety goggles
- Heat exchangers
- Laboratory evaporators — Laboratory evaporaters
- Laboratory filtration hardware or accessories — Filtration systems
- Laboratory mixers — Agitators; Benchtop mixers; Powder mixing equipment
- Mass spectrometers
- Microcontrollers — Programmable logic controllers PLC
- Personal computers
- Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers — Personal digital assistants PDA
- Processing tanks — Mixing tanks
- Robotic or automated liquid handling systems — Vial handling systems
- Scanning probe microscopes — Atomic force microscopes
- Spectrometers — Surface analysis spectroscopes
- Ultrafiltration equipment — Plate filter presses
- Vacuum pumps
- Wet scrubbers
Knowledge Save Table (XLS/CSV)
![]() Importance |
Knowledge |
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---|---|---|
100 ![]() ![]() |
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94 ![]() ![]() |
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94 ![]() ![]() |
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84 ![]() ![]() |
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82 ![]() ![]() |
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73 ![]() ![]() |
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56 ![]() ![]() |
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11 ![]() ![]() |
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7 ![]() ![]() |
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6 ![]() ![]() |
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5 ![]() ![]() |
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1 ![]() ![]() |
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1 ![]() ![]() |
Skills Save Table (XLS/CSV)
![]() Importance |
Skill |
|
---|---|---|
81 ![]() ![]() |
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78 ![]() ![]() |
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75 ![]() ![]() |
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72 ![]() ![]() |
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69 ![]() ![]() |
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60 ![]() ![]() |
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56 ![]() ![]() |
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31 ![]() ![]() |
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28 ![]() ![]() |
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0 ![]() |
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0 ![]() |
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0 ![]() |
Abilities Save Table (XLS/CSV)
Work Activities Save Table (XLS/CSV)
![]() Importance |
Work Activity |
|
---|---|---|
93 ![]() ![]() |
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92 ![]() ![]() |
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89 ![]() ![]() |
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88 ![]() ![]() |
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67 ![]() ![]() |
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Detailed Work Activities Save Table (XLS/CSV)
- Research engineering aspects of biological or chemical processes.
- Develop technical methods or processes.
- Determine causes of operational problems or failures.
- Evaluate characteristics of equipment or systems.
- Conduct validation tests of equipment or processes.
- Research industrial processes or operations.
- Design control systems for mechanical or other equipment.
- Estimate operational costs.
- Prepare operational reports.
- Determine operational methods.
- Direct industrial production activities.
- Monitor the productivity or efficiency of industrial operations.
- Design industrial processing systems.
Find occupations related to multiple detailed work activities
Work Context Save Table (XLS/CSV)
Job Zone Save Table (XLS/CSV)
Title | Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed |
Education | Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. |
Related Experience | A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. |
Job Training | Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. |
Job Zone Examples | Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators. |
SVP Range | (7.0 to < 8.0) |
Education
![]() Percentage of Respondents |
Education Level Required |
---|---|
82 ![]() ![]() |
Bachelor's degree |
9 ![]() ![]() |
Master's degree |
9 ![]() ![]() |
Doctoral degree |
Interests Save Table (XLS/CSV)
![]() Occupational Interest |
Interest |
|
---|---|---|
95 ![]() ![]() |
||
89 ![]() ![]() |
Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others. ![]() |
|
45 ![]() ![]() |
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33 ![]() ![]() |
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17 ![]() ![]() |
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0 ![]() |
Work Styles Save Table (XLS/CSV)
![]() Importance |
Work Style |
|
---|---|---|
97 ![]() ![]() |
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96 ![]() ![]() |
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91 ![]() ![]() |
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82 ![]() ![]() |
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54 ![]() ![]() |
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35 ![]() ![]() |
Related Occupations Save Table (XLS/CSV)
13-1081.01 | Logistics Engineers |
17-2021.00 | Agricultural Engineers |
17-2031.00 | Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers ![]() |
17-2081.00 | Environmental Engineers |
17-2111.00 | Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors |
17-2111.02 | Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers |
17-2151.00 | Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers |
17-2199.03 | Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar |
19-1012.00 | Food Scientists and Technologists |
19-5011.00 | Occupational Health and Safety Specialists |
Wages & Employment Trends
Median wages (2019) | $52.30 hourly, $108,770 annual |
State wages | |
Local wages | |
Employment (2019) | 32,600 employees |
Projected growth (2019-2029) | ![]() |
Projected job openings (2019-2029) | 2,000 |
State trends | |
Top industries (2019) | Manufacturing (52% employed in this sector)
|
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2019 wage data
and 2019-2029 employment projections
.
"Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2019-2029). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.
Sources of Additional Information
Disclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.
- Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
- American Chemical Society
- American Institute of Chemical Engineers
- American Society for Engineering Education
- Association of Consulting Chemists and Chemical Engineers
- GPA Midstream
- International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering
- International Society of Automation
- Materials Research Society
- National Society of Professional Engineers
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Chemical engineers
- Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society
- Society of Petroleum Engineers
- Society of Women Engineers
- The American Society of Mechanical Engineers
- Water Environment Federation