Chemical Engineer

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Work Tasks

• Use knowledge of chemistry, physics, and math to make chemicals and chemical products
• Help design and build machines to mix chemicals
• Help design containers in which to store chemicals
• Find new ways to make and test chemicals
• May work in offices, labs, classrooms, or at plant construction sites
• Work with different chemicals, testing equipment, pumps, filters, graphs, charts, blueprints, and computers

Salary, Size & Growth

• $89,000 average per year ($42.75 per hour)
• A medium occupation (28,700 workers in 2010)
• Expected to decline (0.2% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A 4-year degree in chemical engineering
• Employers Prefer: A master's degree in chemical engineering
• Certification/Licensing: Registration may be needed, which requires a degree, 4 years experience, and passing 2 tests.