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Boston Career Explorer

Architecture and Engineering

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.

Also called: Chemical Engineer, Development Engineer, Engineer, Engineering Scientist, Process Control Engineer, Process Engineer

Median pay in Greater Boston
$109,460
$52.63/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
910
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+1.5%
60 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Bachelor's degree

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$67,810$79,110$109,460$144,030$176,120

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • 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.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Higher exposure73 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 91
  • Language-model AIOE 71
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 56

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for chemical engineers is higher, but observed AI use in the field is little or none so far. Tools may help with analyzing process data, checking equipment performance, and planning layouts. Safety procedures, troubleshooting live chemical processes, and working around plant equipment still depend on people.

Likely to change

  • Analyzing process and experiment data
  • Planning equipment layouts and performance checks

Still relies on people

  • Setting safety rules for workers
  • Troubleshooting live manufacturing processes

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Industrial Production Managers

    Your process and quality knowledge carry over to running production. The job pays about $153,210 in Boston.

    Pay difference
    +$43,750 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +2.3%
    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

  • Chemists

    Your chemistry and process development skills fit lab work on products and methods. It pays about $127,290 and has somewhat lower AI exposure.

    Pay difference
    +$17,830 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +1.0%
    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

  • Architectural and Engineering Managers

    Evaluating equipment and processes builds toward managing technical projects. The role pays about $205,130 and needs the same bachelor's degree.

    Pay difference
    +$95,670 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +0.1%
    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

10 programs near Boston (plus 12 graduate)

Related occupations

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