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Chemical engineer salary in Texas
- $86,920lowest 10% earn less
- $106,91025th percentile
- $132,750median
- $167,75075th percentile
- $210,460top 10% earn more
The median pay for chemical engineers in Texas was $132,750 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $7,710 above the US median[6].
How much do chemical engineers make in Texas?
Half of the chemical engineers in Texas earned more than $132,750 a year and half earned less, which works out to $63.82 an hour[1]. The average was higher, at $144,350 a year[7]. Across the US, the median for chemical engineers was $125,040, so Texas sat 6.2% above it[6]. The median for all jobs in Texas was $48,620, and chemical engineers were $84,130 above that[8][9].
The lowest-paid 10% of chemical engineers in Texas earned less than $86,920 a year[2]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $210,460[2]. The top quarter earned more than $167,750[2].
Among the metro areas with published figures, Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands had the highest median, at $138,120 a year[10]. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington came in at $130,520[11]. OEWS only counts people paid a wage or salary. It leaves out the self-employed and business owners, and it does not include bonuses outside regular production pay or the value of benefits like health insurance[12].
Texas vs US pay
Pay for chemical engineers in Texas next to the national figures[1][3].
Pay by metro area in Texas
Metro areas in Texas with the most jobs for chemical engineers, and the median pay in each[11].
| Metro area | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX[11] | $138,120 | 1,510 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $129,850 | 140 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $130,520 | 130 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $126,690 | 100 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $129,790 | 60 |
Pay in nearby states
Median pay for chemical engineers in the states that border Texas, highest first[14].
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico[14] | $158,190 | 160 |
| Louisiana | $134,800 | 730 |
| Oklahoma | $127,790 | 110 |
| Arkansas | $105,270 | 290 |
Job outlook and training
Across the US, jobs for chemical engineers are projected to grow 4.7% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: bachelor's degree[16].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a chemical engineer make in Texas?
- The median pay for chemical engineers in Texas was $132,750 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $144,350 a year[7].
- How much does a chemical engineer make an hour in Texas?
- The median was $63.82 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile wage was $41.79 an hour and the 90th percentile wage was $101.18[17].
- Which city in Texas pays chemical engineers the most?
- Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands had the highest median among the 5 Texas metro areas with a published figure, at $138,120 a year[10].
- Is Texas a good state for chemical engineers?
- Texas had the 6th highest median annual wage for chemical engineers out of the 41 states with a published median[5]. Its median was $7,710 above the US median[6].
- What do you need to become a chemical engineer in Texas?
- Across the US, the typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree, with no related work experience or on-the-job training listed[16]. This is a US figure, not a Texas one.
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Chemical Engineers in Texas was $132,750 per year and $63.82 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Chemical Engineers in Texas: 10th percentile $86,920, 25th percentile $106,910, 75th percentile $167,750, 90th percentile $210,460. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Chemical Engineers in the US as a whole was $125,040 per year and $60.12 per hour, with about 21,070 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 2,610 people worked as Chemical Engineers in Texas (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: Texas had the 6th highest median annual wage for Chemical Engineers out of the 41 states with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Chemical Engineers in Texas ($132,750) was $7,710 (6.2%) higher than the US median ($125,040). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Chemical Engineers in Texas was $144,350 per year and $69.40 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Texas was $48,620. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Chemical Engineers in Texas was $84,130 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($48,620). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 5 metro areas in or partly in Texas with a published median for Chemical Engineers, Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX had the highest median annual wage, $138,120. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Chemical Engineers in the US: 10th percentile $79,420, 25th percentile $97,820, 75th percentile $157,190, 90th percentile $182,880. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Chemical Engineers in states that border Texas (highest first): New Mexico $158,190; Louisiana $134,800; Oklahoma $127,790; Arkansas $105,270. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Chemical Engineers is projected to grow 4.7% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,100 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Chemical Engineers: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Chemical Engineers in Texas: 10th percentile $41.79, 25th percentile $51.40, 75th percentile $80.65, 90th percentile $101.18. BLS OEWS, May 2025