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Employment Opportunities

Chemical engineers are employed in a wide variety of industries: petroleum and gas, chemicals, minerals and metals, glass and ceramics, plastics and resins, soap and detergents, cosmetics, rubber and tire, food production, fertilizer and agricultural chemicals, nuclear energy, photographic products, microchip manufacturing, missile and space, synthetic fibers and textiles, paint, paper and cellulose, pharmaceuticals, and process equipment manufacture. They are also involved in private consulting, government and higher education.

In addition to the wide range of types of jobs traditionally thought of as chemical engineering, chemical engineers work in such diverse areas as applied physics, applied mathematics, biochemistry, medicine, patent law, pollution monitoring and prediction, sales, and industrial management. 

According to a recent workforce commission, the starting salaries for chemical engineers are among the highest in any engineering field.  Currently, the average starting salary for B.S. graduates exceeds $50,000 per year.

Also see the American Institute of Chemical Engineer's Web address for career information http://www.aiche.org.