Salary distribution
Where Tennessee chemical engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $93,950 and $141,170, with a median of $110,150.
Chemical Engineers in Tennessee: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 24 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $118,740. 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 | 5 | $85,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 8 | $96,311 |
| Level III — experienced | 6 | $121,901 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 4 | $180,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Chemical Engineers in Tennessee. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| UT-BATTELLE, LLC (OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY) | Postdoc Research Assc-Emerging and Solid-State Batteries | 12 | $104,218 |
| Occidental Petroleum Corporation | Eng Process Staff Sr | 2 | $180,000 |
| Eastman Chemical Company | Senior Chemical Engineer | 2 | $120,161 |
| Kanadevia Inova U.S.A. LLC | Senior Process Engineer | 2 | $105,000 |
| Albemarle Corporation | R&T Engineer | 1 | $145,730 |
| UFS Holdings Inc. | Global IP & Technology Leader | 1 | $104,666 |
| Melaleuca, Inc. | Quality Assurance Principal Specialist | 1 | $81,266 |
| BIOENERGY DEVELOPMENT GROUP LLC | PROJECT ENGINEER | 1 | $74,235 |
| Valero Refining Company - Tennessee, L.L.C. | Staff Refinery Optimization Planning Engineer | 1 | $187,538 |
| MP Assets Corporation | Sr. Coating Process Engineer | 1 | $115,274 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Postdoc Res Assoc-Platinum Group Metals Recycling Specialist at UT-BATTELLE, LLC (OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY)$87,261Oak RidgeDecided Dec 4, 2025I-200-25330-441282
- R&T Engineer at Albemarle Corporation$145,730New JohnsonvilleWage Level IVDecided Aug 29, 2025I-200-25234-261167
- Eng Process Staff Sr at Occidental Petroleum Corporation$180,000KnoxvilleWage Level IVDecided Aug 11, 2025I-200-25216-220381
- Global IP & Technology Leader at UFS Holdings Inc.$104,666BristolWage Level IIDecided Jul 21, 2025I-200-25195-171651
- Quality Assurance Principal Specialist at Melaleuca, Inc.$81,266KnoxvilleWage Level IDecided Jun 23, 2025I-200-25164-092061
- Postdoc Research Assc-Emerging and Solid-State Batteries at UT-BATTELLE, LLC (OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY)$87,956Oak RidgeWage Level IIDecided Jun 23, 2025I-200-25164-089631
- PROJECT ENGINEER at BIOENERGY DEVELOPMENT GROUP LLC$74,235MEMPHISWage Level IDecided Jun 11, 2025I-200-25155-052596
- Eng Process Staff Sr at Occidental Petroleum Corporation$180,000KnoxvilleWage Level IVDecided May 21, 2025I-200-25134-975689
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 Tennessee
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 in Tennessee, by industry
Median offered wage across 24 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $104,218.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | UT-BATTELLE, LLC (OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY) | 14 | $104,218 |
| Manufacturing | Eastman Chemical Company | 8 | $116,137 |
| Energy and utilities | Occidental Petroleum Corporation | 2 | $180,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Tennessee 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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Metro-level salary data for chemical engineers in major Tennessee metropolitan areas.
- Memphis$101,600
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Chemical Engineers in Tennessee?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Chemical Engineers in Tennessee is $110,150.
- How does Tennessee compare to the national median for Chemical Engineers?
- The Tennessee median is -2.2% versus the BLS national figure of $112,605.
- What is the salary range for Chemical Engineers in Tennessee?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $85,920 and the 90th-percentile at $183,400, 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.