RateOrchard
DATA PROFILE · 2024

Chemical Engineers salary in Rhode Island

Median, range, employment, and 10-year outlook from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, with skills and task data from O*NET. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities.

Adrian Serafin, founder and editor of RateOrchardBy Adrian SerafinFounderUpdated April 27, 2026
Median annual$91,770
Mean annual$97,780
Range (10th to 90th)$67,950 to $132,000
Rhode Island employment40
State vs national-18.5% vs national

Salary distribution

Where Rhode Island chemical engineers fall on the wage curve.

Annual wage distribution

Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)

10TH$67,95025TH$77,860MEDIAN$91,77075TH$112,32090TH$132,000

The middle 50% of workers earn between $77,860 and $112,320, with a median of $91,770.

Real disclosed salaries

Chemical Engineers in Rhode Island: actual employer-disclosed pay

Public records from 8 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $119,330. 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.

LevelFilingsMedian offer
Level I — entry1$64,356
Level II — qualified3$125,901
Level IV — fully competent3$119,330

Top employers filing for this role

Companies with the most certified filings for Chemical Engineers in Rhode Island. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.

EmployerMost-filed titleFilingsMedian
Amgen Inc.Senior Engineer3$125,901
Vertex Pharmaceuticals IncorporatedValidation Engineering Senior Specialist3$119,330
Brown UniversityAssistant Professor (Research) in Engineering2$71,688

Recent sample filings

A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.

  • Assistant Professor (Research) in Engineering at Brown University
    $79,019
    ProvidenceDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-496886
  • Engineer at Amgen Inc.
    $107,178
    West GreenwichWage Level IIDecided May 8, 2025I-200-25121-927562
  • Validation Engineering Senior Specialist at Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
    $119,330
    ProvidenceWage Level IVDecided Mar 12, 2025I-200-25064-747267
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate in Engineering at Brown University
    $64,356
    ProvidenceWage Level IDecided Jul 30, 2025I-200-25204-194517
  • Senior Engineer at Amgen Inc.
    $125,901
    West GreenwichWage Level IIDecided Mar 18, 2025I-200-25070-765897
  • Senior Engineer at Amgen Inc.
    $125,901
    West GreenwichWage Level IIDecided Mar 7, 2025I-200-25059-733417
  • Validation Engineering Senior Specialist at Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
    $119,330
    ProvidenceWage Level IVDecided Oct 10, 2024I-200-24277-382905
  • Validation Engineering Senior Specialist at Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
    $119,330
    ProvidenceWage Level IVDecided Oct 1, 2024I-200-24268-359744

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.

By seniority

Chemical Engineers pay by experience level in Rhode Island

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.

Specialties

Chemical Engineers specialties in Rhode Island

Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 6 certified offers. The most common variant is Senior Engineer at a median of $125,901.

SpecialtyTop employerFilingsMedian offer
Senior EngineerAmgen Inc.3$125,901
Validation Engineering Senior SpecialistVertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated3$119,330

Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.

Pay by industry

Chemical Engineers in Rhode Island, by industry

Median offered wage across 8 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $119,330.

IndustryLargest employerFilingsMedian offer
Professional servicesAmgen Inc.6$119,330
EducationBrown University2$71,688

Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.

Typical entry

  • Education

    Bachelor's degree

  • Experience

    None

  • On-the-job training

    None

Top skills (O*NET)

  • Engineering and Technology

    Knowledge

    5.0 / 5
  • Mathematics

    Knowledge

    4.8 / 5
  • Chemistry

    Knowledge

    4.8 / 5
  • Physics

    Knowledge

    4.4 / 5
  • Production and Processing

    Knowledge

    4.3 / 5
  • Design

    Knowledge

    4.3 / 5
  • Science

    Basic skill

    4.3 / 5
  • Complex Problem Solving

    Technical

    4.1 / 5

Common tasks (O*NET)

  1. 01

    Monitor and analyze data from processes and experiments.

  2. 02

    Develop safety procedures to be employed by workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions.

  3. 03

    Develop processes to separate components of liquids or gases or generate electrical currents, using controlled chemical processes.

  4. 04

    Troubleshoot problems with chemical manufacturing processes.

  5. 05

    Evaluate chemical equipment and processes to identify ways to optimize performance or to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.

  6. 06

    Conduct research to develop new and improved chemical manufacturing processes.

  7. 07

    Perform laboratory studies of steps in manufacture of new products and test proposed processes in small-scale operation, such as a pilot plant.

  8. 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, 20242034 cycle.

Sponsored

Build the skills employers list for Chemical Engineers

Online courses from licensed providers. We may earn a commission when you enroll. The commission does not influence our rankings or wage data.

Explore courses

Top metros in Rhode Island

Metro-level salary data for chemical engineers in major Rhode Island metropolitan areas.

Compare Chemical Engineers pay across nearby states

Frequently asked questions

What is the median salary for Chemical Engineers in Rhode Island?
According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Chemical Engineers in Rhode Island is $91,770.
How does Rhode Island compare to the national median for Chemical Engineers?
The Rhode Island median is -18.5% versus the BLS national figure of $112,605.
What is the salary range for Chemical Engineers in Rhode Island?
BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $67,950 and the 90th-percentile at $132,000, 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.
Disclaimer

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.