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by Nidhi Sharma -
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The results of AIChE's 2019 salary survey are in, revealing positive advances for the chemical engineering profession. The median annual salary of respondents to the 2019 survey is $126,000, a 1.6% increase over the 2017 median of $124,000. In comparison, the previous survey reported a 2.4% decrease in median salary between 2015 and 2017.
The median starting salary for chemical engineers beginning their careers is $68,000. Median salaries range from $71,000 for respondents with less than three years of experience to $160,000 for respondents with 26-30 years of experience.
Age and Gender
In general, as age increases, so does median salary. The median salary of chemical engineers under the age of 26 is $72,000, while chemical engineers aged 61-65 earn more than double that, with a median salary of $152,000. In most age groups, men earn more than women. The largest discrepancy of percentage is found in the 41-45 age group; however, continuing a trend reported in 2017, women who are aged 26-30 years earn more than men, with a median salary of $91,000 vs. $85,000.
Women are 2.5 times more likely to take time off overall, and 7% percent of female respondents did so to spend more time at home with their children, compared to 0.7% of men.
More statistics in the survey
Members can read a comprehensive summary of findings in the June 2019 issue of CEP Magazine, whether in print or in CEP online. The full survey results include the following, and more:
- Number and age of of survey participants
- Gender distribution of the survey participants
- Number and percentage of respondents who took time off to raise children, further education, medical or health reasons
- Median salaries of respondents by highest degree obtained
- Median salaries of respondents by gender and work experience
- Median salaries of respondents by supervisory responsibilities
- Median salaries of respondents by industry categories
- Median salaries of respondents by job function
- Median salaries of respondents by geographical location
- Future prospects of chemical engineers