Jobs Similar to Chemical Engineers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to chemical engineers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Materials Engineers, Nuclear Engineers and Materials Scientists.
Chemical Engineers: $125,040 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Chemical Engineers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Materials EngineersSame group | 85% | $112,860−10% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Nuclear EngineersSame group | 84% | $133,970+7% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Materials Scientists | 84% | $117,790−6% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Aerospace EngineersSame group | 84% | $134,960+8% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Automotive EngineersSame group | 83% | $104,110Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Mechanical EngineersSame group | 82% | $104,110−17% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Nanosystems EngineersSame group | 82% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Water/Wastewater EngineersSame group | 82% | $100,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Fire-Prevention and Protection EngineersSame group | 82% | $115,160Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Fuel Cell EngineersSame group | 82% | $104,110Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety EngineersSame group | 81% | $106,220−15% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Mechatronics EngineersSame group | 81% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Wind Energy EngineersSame group | 81% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Microsystems EngineersSame group | 81% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Agricultural EngineersSame group | 80% | $98,590−21% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Energy Engineers, Except Wind and SolarSame group | 80% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Validation EngineersSame group | 80% | $102,440Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Industrial EngineersSame group | 79% | $102,440−18% | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Electrical EngineersSame group | 79% | $120,630−4% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Petroleum EngineersSame group | 78% | $144,910+16% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Materials Engineers
85% similar · $112,860 (−10%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Nuclear Engineers
84% similar · $133,970 (+7%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Materials Scientists
84% similar · $117,790 (−6%) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Aerospace Engineers
84% similar · $134,960 (+8%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Automotive Engineers
83% similar · $104,110 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Mechanical Engineers
82% similar · $104,110 (−17%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 7Nanosystems Engineers
82% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 8Water/Wastewater Engineers
82% similar · $100,840 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 9Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers
82% similar · $115,160 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Fuel Cell Engineers
82% similar · $104,110 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 11Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
81% similar · $106,220 (−15%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 12Mechatronics Engineers
81% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 13Wind Energy Engineers
81% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 14Microsystems Engineers
81% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 15Agricultural Engineers
80% similar · $98,590 (−21%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 16Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar
80% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 17Validation Engineers
80% similar · $102,440 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 18Industrial Engineers
79% similar · $102,440 (−18%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 19Electrical Engineers
79% similar · $120,630 (−4%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 20Petroleum Engineers
78% similar · $144,910 (+16%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than chemical engineers.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for chemical engineers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where chemical engineers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Materials Scientists (94)
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers (85)
- Food Scientists and Technologists (84)
- Chemists (80)
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians (77)
- Water Resource Specialists (77)
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers (75)
- Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians (75)
- Hydrologists (74)
- Industrial Ecologists (72)
Questions about jobs like chemical engineers
What jobs are most similar to chemical engineers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Materials Engineers (85% similar), Nuclear Engineers (84% similar), Materials Scientists (84% similar), Aerospace Engineers (84% similar) and Automotive Engineers (83% similar).
Which jobs like chemical engineers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Petroleum Engineers ($144,910, +16%; usually a bachelor's degree), Aerospace Engineers ($134,960, +8%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Nuclear Engineers ($133,970, +7%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with chemical engineers ($125,040). Without more preparation than chemical engineers usually need: Petroleum Engineers, Aerospace Engineers and Nuclear Engineers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.