Chemical Engineering

In the field of engineering, a chemical engineer is a professional who works principally in the chemical industry to convert basic raw materials into a variety of products, and deals with the design and operation of plants and equipment to perform such work.[1] In general, a chemical engineer is one who applies and uses principles of chemical engineering in any of its various practical applications; these often include 1) design, manufacture, and operation of plants and machinery in industrial chemical and related processes ("chemical process engineers"); 2) development of new or adapted substances for products ranging from foods and beverages to cosmetics to cleaners to pharmaceutical ingredients, among many other products ("chemical product engineers"); and 3) development of new technologies such as fuel cells, hydrogen power and nanotechnology, as well as working in fields wholly or partially derived from Chemical Engineering such as materials science, polymer engineering, and biomedical engineering.

Chemical Engineering Studies

Besides the required classes in mathematics,biology,chemistry and physics, chemical engineering students can expect to also take classes in thermodynamics, mass and energy balances, transport phenomena, process control, kinetics and reactor design, chemical engineering process, micro fabrication, micro fluids and green engineering.

Chemical Engineering Salaries

Chemical engineering is one of the better paying engineering careers with an average salary of $104k/year according to the bureau of labor statistics. The top 10% earners earn on average $158k/year.

Who's Hiring Chemical Engineering Graduates?

Some of the industries with the highest employment of chemical engineers includes architectural and engineering firms, chemical manufacturers, scientific research and development firms, synthetic manufacturers, petroleum industry and the coal industry. Oil and gas extraction companies are some of the highest payers with an annual wage of $158k/year.