Salary distribution
Where Pennsylvania chemical engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $85,950 and $148,200, with a median of $107,040.
Chemical Engineers in Pennsylvania: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 59 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $105,830. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 20 | $85,300 |
| Level II — qualified | 14 | $102,600 |
| Level III — experienced | 13 | $122,200 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 6 | $145,850 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Chemical Engineers in Pennsylvania. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| EVONIK CORPORATION | Process Development Engineer | 4 | $105,044 |
| GlaxoSmithKline LLC | Investigator, Modeling and Simulation | 3 | $110,250 |
| Janssen Research & Development, LLC | Sr. Scientist Formulations | 3 | $145,700 |
| Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. | Validation Engineering Professional | 3 | $85,000 |
| Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. | Principal Engineer - Research | 3 | $122,200 |
| BioTechnique LLC | Project/Process Engineer | 3 | $78,832 |
| FLSmidth Cement USA Inc. | Field Services Engineer III, Operational Services | 2 | $105,830 |
| KeyLogic LLC | Process Modeling and Optimization Engineer | 2 | $112,027 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Postdoctoral Fellow | 2 | $74,050 |
| Lehigh University | Research Scientist 1 | 2 | $403,548 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Field Services Engineer III, Operational Services at FLSmidth Cement USA Inc.$105,830AllentownDecided Dec 9, 2025I-200-25336-451349
- Process Modeling and Optimization Engineer at KeyLogic LLC$109,054PittsburghDecided Nov 25, 2025I-200-25322-417129
- Downstream Process Development Science Engineer at Genentech, Inc.$124,363PhiladelphiaDecided Nov 6, 2025I-200-25272-342500
- Investigator, Modeling and Simulation at GlaxoSmithKline LLC$110,250CollegevilleWage Level IDecided Aug 22, 2025I-200-25227-245209
- Sr. Scientist Formulations at Janssen Research & Development, LLC$139,300MalvernWage Level IIIDecided Aug 18, 2025I-200-25223-235093
- Sr. Scientist Process at Janssen Research & Development, LLC$145,700MalvernWage Level IVDecided Aug 18, 2025I-200-25223-235089
- Process Engineer at Trinity Consultants, Inc.$95,819ExtonWage Level IDecided Aug 18, 2025I-200-25223-234960
- Postdoctoral Fellow at Carnegie Mellon University$78,100PittsburghWage Level IDecided Aug 14, 2025I-200-25219-228209
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Chemical Engineers pay by experience level in Pennsylvania
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Chemical Engineers specialties in Pennsylvania
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 21 certified offers. The most common variant is Process Engineer at a median of $100,107.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Process Engineer | Trinity Consultants, Inc. | 4 | $100,107 |
| R&D Engineer | Arencibia, Inc | 4 | $91,455 |
| Senior Research Specialist | THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY | 4 | $120,411 |
| Specialist, Engineering | Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC | 3 | $101,982 |
| RESEARCH ENGINEER | JEEVAN TECHNOLOGY, INC. | 3 | $101,590 |
| Project/Process Engineer | BioTechnique LLC | 3 | $78,832 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Chemical Engineers in Pennsylvania, by industry
Median offered wage across 56 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $110,250.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | EVONIK CORPORATION | 25 | $110,250 |
| Professional services | Janssen Research & Development, LLC | 24 | $101,991 |
| Education | Carnegie Mellon University | 5 | $78,100 |
| Energy and utilities | Shell US Hosting Co. | 2 | $88,513,100 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Pennsylvania over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 5.0 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.8 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.8 / 5
Chemistry
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Physics
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Production and Processing
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Science
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Complex Problem Solving
Technical
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Monitor and analyze data from processes and experiments.
- 02
Develop safety procedures to be employed by workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions.
- 03
Develop processes to separate components of liquids or gases or generate electrical currents, using controlled chemical processes.
- 04
Troubleshoot problems with chemical manufacturing processes.
- 05
Evaluate chemical equipment and processes to identify ways to optimize performance or to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
- 06
Conduct research to develop new and improved chemical manufacturing processes.
- 07
Perform laboratory studies of steps in manufacture of new products and test proposed processes in small-scale operation, such as a pilot plant.
- 08
Prepare estimate of production costs and production progress reports for management.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+2.3%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in Pennsylvania
Metro-level salary data for chemical engineers in major Pennsylvania metropolitan areas.
- Pittsburgh$133,880
- Philadelphia$120,300
Compare Chemical Engineers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Chemical Engineers in Pennsylvania?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Chemical Engineers in Pennsylvania is $107,040.
- How does Pennsylvania compare to the national median for Chemical Engineers?
- The Pennsylvania median is -4.9% versus the BLS national figure of $112,605.
- What is the salary range for Chemical Engineers in Pennsylvania?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $79,070 and the 90th-percentile at $171,290, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Chemical Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 2.3% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Chemical Engineers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.