Chemical Engineer
M-27M Other Engineering jobs · Skilled level · O*NET 17-2041.00
- Texas median
whole occupation, 2025 - $132,750
- work over
40 h a week - 70%
- load index
from O*NET data - 2.0/5
- Texas jobs
2024 to 2034 - +8.0%
Pay
This level's pay
No headline for this level: records that name this level: only 6 H-1B filings (headline needs 30 or more). The records are listed below with their year and size; the occupation-wide figure further down is for all experience levels.
- H-1B filings, n = 6, TX+AZ, 6 filings, 2026: $111,322 a year (median of 6 H-1B filings), SOC 17-2041 and job title contains every word of 'Chemical Engineer' and no seniority word, TX+AZ, effective 2026-06-30 source
All pay records and context (4)
- H-1B filings, n = 6, TX+AZ, 6 filings, 2026: $111,322 a year (median of 6 H-1B filings), SOC 17-2041 and job title contains every word of 'Chemical Engineer' and no seniority word, TX+AZ, effective 2026-06-30 source
- DOL prevailing-wage levels I-IV for the whole occupation (wage tiers set by DOL, not job titles or seniority): Level I $120,000 · Level II $135,000 · Level III $158,600 · Level IV $192,690 (75 filings, TX) Base wages offered on H-1B/E-3 Labor Condition Applications (TX and AZ, FY2026 Q1-Q3); covers only employers who filed. source
- DOL prevailing-wage levels I-IV for the whole occupation (wage tiers set by DOL, not job titles or seniority): Level I $104,125 · Level II $115,800 · Level III $118,810 · Level IV $131,500 (11 filings, AZ) Base wages offered on H-1B/E-3 Labor Condition Applications (TX and AZ, FY2026 Q1-Q3); covers only employers who filed. source
- State of Texas class salary ranges for this occupation (which class equals this rung is not published here): Engineer I $61,184 to $99,658 · Engineer II $65,104 to $106,634 · Engineer III $69,572 to $114,099 · Engineer IV $76,530 to $129,430 · Engineer V $84,182 to $142,374 · Engineer VI $92,600 to $156,612 Fiscal 2026-27 (Sept 1, 2025 - Aug 31, 2027) source
Whole occupation: all Chemical Engineers, Texas BLS OEWS May 2025
- Series OEUS480000000000017204113 (median), Texas, May 2025, read 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Base pay (straight-time, excludes overtime).
- Based on an estimated 2,610 jobs in Texas (series OEUS480000000000017204101).
BLS OEWS May 2025
- Series OEUS480000000000017204113 (median), Texas, May 2025, read 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Base pay (straight-time, excludes overtime).
- Based on an estimated 2,610 jobs in Texas (series OEUS480000000000017204101).
Outlook 2024 to 2034, all Chemical Engineers, not level-specific TWC, BLS
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
TWC, BLS
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
- Texas
- +8.0% jobs · about 160 openings a year (2,730 jobs in 2024)
- United States
- +2.3% jobs · about 1,100 openings a year (21,600 jobs in 2024)
Openings include people retiring or changing jobs, not only growth.
Hours O*NET 31.0
- Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), O*NET Work Context, data 08/2025, n = 23 respondents, O*NET OnLine
O*NET 31.0
- Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), O*NET Work Context, data 08/2025, n = 23 respondents, O*NET OnLine
Schedule: regular 87% · irregular 13% · seasonal 0%
Physical load 2.0 of 5, our index from O*NET Method
- Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (1.69, 6 measures) and an exposure index (2.31, 7 measures), built from O*NET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
- O*NET OnLine
Method
- Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (1.69, 6 measures) and an exposure index (2.31, 7 measures), built from O*NET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
- O*NET OnLine
Body
- Standing2.05
- Walking or running2
- Climbing ladders1.64
- Bending or twisting1.57
- Kneeling or crawling1.52
- Keeping balance1.35
Exposure
- Outdoors, all weather2.87
- Hazardous conditions2.78
- Hazardous equipment2.39
- Very hot or cold2.3
- Protective gear2.3
- High places1.87
- Cramped space1.65
Getting in
- License
- Texas PE license (TBPELS) is required for the practice of engineering as defined in Occ. Code 1001.003; whether this job needs it depends on the work.
- Degree
- 100% hold a bachelor's or higher; most common: Bachelor's Degree
- Experience
- None of related experience is the most common answer (30% of workers).
O*NET
- O*NET Related Work Experience, Chemical Engineers, O*NET OnLine
- Preparation
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Why this level
- Skilled: O*NET Job Zone 4 (1-2 start, 3-4 skilled, 5 senior).
Moves to the side 6
- I Materials Development Engineer O*NET lists Materials Engineers as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.94.
- I Materials Scientist O*NET lists Materials Scientists as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.93.
- I Manufacturing Engineer O*NET lists Manufacturing Engineers as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.84.
- M Mechatronics Engineer O*NET lists Mechatronics Engineers as a related occupation (Primary-Long); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.87.
What the work is 6 core tasks
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.
- Develop safety procedures to be employed by workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions.
- Troubleshoot problems with chemical manufacturing processes.
- Monitor and analyze data from processes and experiments.
- Evaluate chemical equipment and processes to identify ways to optimize performance or to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
- Design and plan layout of equipment.
- Prepare estimate of production costs and production progress reports for management.
Core tasks ranked by O*NET task Importance (IM, 1-5), top 6.
Top skills
- Critical Thinking
- Science
- Complex Problem Solving
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Systems Analysis
- Systems Evaluation
Sources (4)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, Texas, series OEUS480000000000017204113, read 2026-10-03
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
- O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), 17-2041.00 Chemical Engineers, read 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Engineer Tsai has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 · O*NET license
Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Base pay; excludes overtime. Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (United States) and Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections 2024-2034, read through Projections Central.
