On the Job

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Chemical engineers are in great demand in many different kinds of industries. Of all the disciplines, chemical engineers have the highest average starting salary of $65,466.


For example, pharmaceutical companies such as Novartis and Pfizer need chemical engineers to create new medicines. Food manufacturers like General Mills rely on chemical engineers to come up with new food products and packaging. Chemical engineers also work at chemical companies like DuPont, and Dow Chemical Co.; at energy firms such as Chevron and ConocoPhillips; and at all sorts of manufacturing companies like 3M and Procter & Gamble. State environmental health and safety agencies also employ many chemical engineers. Find out more about chemical engineering.