Chemical Engineering is mainly concerned with the conversion of raw material resources and various chemicals into the finished products that are more useful. The field also includes the designing, development and maintenance of the existing products and services. The field of chemical engineering can be basically be said as the application of applied chemistry and is considered very vast.

Professional workings in this field are usually called Chemical engineers. However their roles may vary depending on the area of work. Like all other engineers these engineers also use various applications of mathematics, physics and chemistry to solve many technical problems. Major difference is that they need to apply the knowledge of chemistry apart from other engineering streams.

Usually for an entry level job in this field the candidates need a bachelor’s degree qualification. Most of the jobs will require an undergraduate degree in Chemistry or mathematics or any other type of engineering. However better jobs can be acquired if they have a master’s degree in the related subject.

The career opportunities for these graduates are plenty. They can get into lucrative jobs in both government and private sectors.

Jobs available in different fields

The chemical engineers can work in various industries. Some of them are

• Aerospace Engineer
• Biotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Chemical Plant
• Civil Engineer
• Computer Systems
• Electrical Engineering
• Environmental Engineer
• Food and Drink Industries
• Mechanical Engineer
• Mining Engineer
• Nanotechnology
• Nuclear Engineer
• Oil and Natural Gas Industry
• Paper Manufacture
• Petrochemical Engineer
• Pharmaceuticals
• Plant Design
• Plastic and Polymer Manufacture
• Technical Sales
• Waste Treatment

Chemical Engineering Jobs

These professionals can perform in various roles in these industries such as

• Senior Chemical Engineer
• Professor
• Associate Professor
• Lecturer
• Safety Trainer
• Chemical Lab Assistant
• Senior Manager Process
• Chemical Research Engineer – Process Development
• Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE)
• Biochemical Engineer
• Process Development Engineer
• Validation Engineer
• Automation Engineer
• Process Engineer
• Project Engineer
• Chemical Test Engineer
• Chemical Engineer

Pay scale of Chemical Engineering Jobs

The chemical engineers can earn fairly good salaries in the industry. Those graduates who entered in the entry level jobs can earn a monthly salary ranging from Rs 15000 t Rs. 20000. The post graduates can expect more than this at entry level jobs. However their salary will increase gradually with experience and their skills. A professional with more than five years of experience in this field get earn up to Rs. 7 -8 lakh annually.

Pros about Chemical Engineering Jobs

The chemical engineering graduates can have many advantages in this field. They have plenty of job opportunities nowadays. It is surveyed that about 30, 000 jobs have been occupied by chemical engineers in US alone and it has also been observed that there plenty of job opportunities available in India too. Most of the companies take these graduates in chemical engineering fields or in other fields related to this. They can find employment in various fields like pharmaceuticals, non-manufacturing industries, etc.

Cons about Chemical Engineering Jobs

Although the chemical engineers enjoy their lucrative jobs they encounter many health problems compared to others. They have to work on different harmful toxic chemicals that may cause allergies. There are also chances for the dangerous chemical explosions due to various chemical reactions. The increasing work responsibilities and development in this field had made a lack of social life in most of the chemical engineers. They have to spend more time in research projects.