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How to Become a Chemical Engineer

The chemical engineering is the profession through which you can earn the manufacturing future and opportunity to serve the world. By studying in this field, you will be familiarized with the mathematics, chemistry, and biology, the knowledge of this subject will lead you to invent better products such as better quality of water, food, medicines, the energy the etc. 

Becoming a chemical engineer will let you work with the various industries and you can always have an opportunity to be at the managerial level by getting the experience and master degree.

How to Become a Chemical Engineer
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STEPS TO BECOME A CHEMICAL ENGINEER

The chemical engineering is one the best alternatives you are choosing among the engineering courses. It offers the various degrees and study levels from foundations courses to Ph.D. As it offers the choice in the study levels, you can also find the jobs according to your choice or the level at which you want to work. Here are 4 useful steps to become a chemical engineer and what are the scopes after completing the study.

1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering

After completing the high schooling you can move forward for the bachelor’s degree. Being a graduate in the chemical stream is essential for your smooth entry in the chemical industries. While studying the degree you will learn physics, biology, mathematics, and kinetics apart from the main subject chemistry. The lab experiments and projects given during the study will enhance your knowledge of the industry norms.

However, as the graduation will make you enable to enter in the field, But the master degree will make your path towards the managerial level. Further, earning the master degree is also for the purpose of getting the specialization in the respective filed. You will get a chance to work on the research project or get a fieldwork placement.

For getting more specialization in the field, you can opt for the Ph.D. level, during it, you will learn about the chemical reactors, thermodynamics, transport phenomena, and numerical methods. Here you will get the chance of product development and some essential research projects.

2. Complete a Chemical Engineering Internship

The internship in the chemical engineering is optional or it’s dependent on the course you choose. However attaining the internship will be beneficial to you as will get the experience of working in the industry and understand how the field works, moreover building the contacts through the industry is also the essential benefit of the internship. The tenure and completion of the internship may vary according to the university norms, but you should complete it during the junior or senior level of the bachelor's and after the completing first year in masters.

3. Choose a Specialty/Concentration

Female Chemical Engineer
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As the Chemical Engineering have numerous opportunities, so it requires the plenty of experts to make the industry more successful. The areas such as petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, food, general manufacturing and environmental are very famous for the specialization. By having the specialization in any of the above, you can have an opportunity in working the research centers and developing new products.

4. Complete Relevant Exams for Certification

As the engineering fields are more focused on the academic courses and abide by the regulation, the chemical engineering is creating the new pathways by making the smooth entries through the short courses. However, this short courses will not just enhance your knowledge but will make your way to the respective firms you want to work with. Following few are named out of it:-

⇒ Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination (after completion of baccalaureate degree)
⇒ Professional Engineering (PE) (After having the four years experience in the Industry)

 

5. Chemical Engineering Degrees & Careers

The chemical engineering provides various courses for the aspirants and it’s not just limited to the students but those who are already working as an engineer can enhance their knowledge by getting the master degree or Ph.D. or simply attaining the short courses.

» Associate Degrees in Chemical Engineering:-

Well, the chemical engineering doesn’t have the associate level degrees, but if you want to make a way to chemical sector through an associate level, you can take 2 years course of the Chemical Technician. The courses offer:-

Introduction to Chemistry
Quantitative analysis in Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Bio-Chemistry

By getting through this will help you to gain the skills such as methods of analysis, knowledge of compounds that contain carbon and understating the chemical reaction on metabolism.

» Bachelor’s  Degrees in Chemical Engineering:-

For becoming a chemical engineer the bachelor’s degree is the required. If you want to see yourself as the team leader or project manager, you should have this degree. This will include:-

Introduction to Chemical Engineering
 Unit Operations
Reactor Design In Chemical Engineering
Engineering Ethics 

The courses not just give you the details knowledge of engineering but also have some general education to nourish your professionalism. There are many universities which offer you the courses. This four years course is the pathway to build your career as chemical engineer.

» Master’s  Degrees in Chemical Engineering:-

Getting master’s degree is not just about gaining the specific knowledge of the field or having another degree; it’s the get way towards the Ph.D. The tenure of the master degree can vary from 18 months to 2 years. This will includes:-

Biochemical and Drug Delivery
Chemical Process Design
Sustainable Chemical Engineering
Separation Processes

By attending the master degree the candidate will gain the knowledge about drug delivery methods, techniques to manufacture chemicals in an economic way and Understanding of distillation methods as a means of separation.

» Doctorate Degree in Chemical Engineering:-

Earning the Master degree in any field is a dream of each student. The Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering is about being the veteran of the field and organic chemistry. It includes,

Advanced Thermodynamics in Chemical Engineering
Chemical Transport and Kinetics
Advanced Fluid and Heat Transfer Theory
Modeling Chemical Reactions

The Ph.D. will take around 4 to 6 years. Further, a student needs to go through the several courses and the choice should be made according to the career preference. It’s suitable for those who want to become researcher or professors.

» Certificates in Chemical Engineering:-

The certificate course will help to those who are not a chemical engineer but want to work in this field, so by attending these courses, they can make their way to industry. This will include:-

Advanced Chemical Reactions
Introduction to Chemical Engineering
♦ Advanced Fluid Dynamics

The certificate courses will be helpful for those also who became chemical engineers and want to have specialization for respective area.

Career Trends In Chemical Engineering

chemical engineers in laboratory
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The chemical engineer has various options regarding the career choice. They can make a career in the areas such as manufacturing, research, and developments, safety or health care. The following are some career roles after becoming chemical engineer:-

 Energy Engineer
Plant and System Operators
 Chemist
 Petroleum Engineer
 Mining Engineer
 Chemical/Manufacturing Technician
 Biomedical Engineer
 Molecular Biologist
 Environmental Engineer
 Materials Scientist
 Nuclear Engineer
 Envirronmental Health and Safety Specialist

 

Chemical Engineer Average Salaries (by payscale.com) by Various Career Roles

1. Energy Engineer

An Energy Engineer earns an average salary of $67,748 per year. Most people move on to other jobs if they have more than 10 years' experience in this career. A skill in Microsoft Office is associated with high pay for this job. Experience has a moderate effect on income for this job.

Energy Engineer (United States)
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2. Plant and System Operators

Men make up the majority of Chemical Plant Operators in the United States, and the nationwide average salary in this area lies in the neighborhood of $20.25 per hour. Geography is the biggest factor affecting pay for this group, followed by years of experience. Nearly all report receiving medical coverage from their employers and a strong majority collect dental insurance. Most workers in this position report high levels of job satisfaction. The information for this rundown comes from respondents who completed PayScale's salary questionnaire.

Chemical Plant Operator (United States)
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3. Chemist

Earnings for Chemists in the United States come in at around $54K per year on average. Incomes of Chemists vary widely depending on performance components; bonuses and profit sharing that can occasionally exceed $7K cause paychecks to spread between $35K on the low end and $81K on the high end. The most influential factor affecting pay for this group is the specific employer, though experience level and location have a (lesser) impact as well. A large number report receiving medical coverage from their employers and a fair number collect dental insurance. Job satisfaction is reported as high by the vast majority of workers. Chemists who participated in the survey are largely men, dominating at 60 percent. The figures in this overview were provided by individuals who took PayScale's salary questionnaire.

Chemist (United States)
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4. Petrolium Engineer

Wages for Petroleum Engineers in the United States are generous, with average pay above six figures ($100K) per year. Overall incomes of Petroleum Engineers generally bottom out at around $58K and peak near $196K; the final number can, in exceptional cases, include upwards of $40K each for bonuses and profit sharing proceeds. The most influential factor affecting pay for this group is the particular firm, though career duration and geographic location have a (lesser) impact as well. Medical benefits are awarded to most, and a strong majority earn dental coverage. Most workers in this position report high levels of job satisfaction. The data in this summary comes from the PayScale salary survey.

Petroleum Engineer (United States)
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5. Mining Engineer

Men represent the vast majority of Mining Engineers in the United States. People in this role can earn an average of $72K annually nationwide. While geography and the particular employer impact pay for this group, career length is the most influential factor. Most Mining Engineers report high levels of job satisfaction. Nearly all enjoy medical while most get dental coverage. Vision coverage is also available to a strong majority. The data for this snapshot was collected from individuals who took PayScale's salary survey.

Mining Engineer (United States)
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6. Chemical/Manufacturing Technician

An average Chemical Technician in the United States can expect to take home roughly $18.82 per hour. Career length is the biggest factor affecting pay for this group, followed by geography. Most people on this career path report moderate levels of job satisfaction. Medical benefits are awarded to a strong majority, and a majority earn dental coverage. Most Chemical Technicians survey respondents are men (78 percent). Participants in PayScale's salary questionnaire provided the particulars of this report.

Chemical Technician (United States)
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7. Biomedical Engineer

The average pay for a Biomedical Engineer is $63,560 per year. For the first five to ten years in this position, pay increases steeply, but any additional experience does not have a big effect on pay. The highest paying skills associated with this job are Research Analysis and Project Management. Most people move on to other jobs if they have more than 10 years' experience in this career.

Biomedical Engineer (United States)
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8. Molecular Biologist

A Molecular Biologist earns an average salary of $57,813 per year. Experience has a moderate effect on income for this job. People in this job generally don't have more than 20 years' experience. A skill in Protein Purification is associated with high pay for this job.

Molecular Biologist (United States)
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9.  Environmental Engineer

The average pay for an Environmental Engineer is $62,716 per year. People in this job generally don't have more than 20 years' experience. A skill in Project Management is associated with high pay for this job. Experience has a moderate effect on salary for this job.

Environmental Engineer (United States)
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10. Materials Scientist 

A Materials Scientist earns an average salary of $81,449 per year. Most people with this job move on to other positions after 20 years in this field. Experience has a moderate effect on income for this job.

Materials Scientist (United States)
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11. Nuclear Engineer

The average pay for a Nuclear Engineer is $84,449 per year. A skill in Project Management is associated with high pay for this job. Experience has a moderate effect on income for this job.

Nuclear Engineer (United States)
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12. Environmental Health and Safety Specialist

For Environmental Health & Safety Specialists, yearly average wages total $60K annually. Including potential for bonuses and profit sharing — peaking near $8K and $8K, respectively — total cash payment to Environmental Health & Safety Specialists can bottom out near $41K or peak near $86K depending on individual performance. The particular firm is the main element affecting pay for this group — geography and tenure are driving factors as well. Medical and dental coverage is claimed by most, and a strong majority earn vision coverage. The majority of workers are highly satisfied with their job. Men make up the majority of Environmental Health & Safety Specialists (62 percent) survey respondents. The data for this snapshot was collected from individuals who took PayScale's salary survey.

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