A Chemical Engineering degree opens up the doors to a lot of exciting and well-compensated career opportunities. In this blog, we’ll explore seven diverse career prospects for those who are exploring career opportunities after a Chemical Engineering Degree and look at the key skills required, salary expectations, and prominent recruiters in each field. We’ll also explore Chemical Engineering salary trends and sectors, along with identifying the prime cities for employment.
- Environmental Engineer
Environmental engineers work on projects related to environmental protection, pollution control, and sustainable practices. Exploring opportunities after a Chemical Engineering Degree, graduates can find employment in government agencies, consulting firms, and industries with a strong focus on environmental compliance, offering promising career prospects.
The number of jobs for environmental engineers is forecasted to grow by 8.3% by 2026. There are projected to be about 4,000 openings on average every year for professionals in this field.*
Key Skills Needed
Communication skills are needed to be an environmental engineer so that they can explain plans, specifications & findings. Environmental engineers apply various mathematical concepts, including calculus and trigonometry, in their tasks involving analysis, design, and problem-solving.
Salary
The salary for Environmental Engineers in India spans from ₹1.8 Lakhs to ₹9.5 Lakhs, with an average yearly income of ₹4.0 Lakhs.**
Top Recruiters
**Source – Ambitionbox
*Source – IndiaToday
2. Energy Engineer
Energy engineers work to optimise energy consumption and efficiency in various industries. They may be involved in designing energy-efficient processes and systems or working on renewable energy projects. Producing electricity is a sign of a developed country. India is moving toward cleaner ways of making power, like wind and solar. Right now, we have 73 GW of clean energy, but we can have 363 GW. So, being an energy engineer in this field is a good career choice.*
Key skills needed
In energy engineering, smart thinking can help you find clever solutions when faced with problems. Depending on your job, you might also need skills like good communication, management skills, and knowledge about energy markets and industry trends.
Salary
The salary of an Energy Engineer in India can be anywhere from ₹1.8 LPA to ₹9 LPA, and the typical yearly salary is around ₹3.5 LPA.**
Top recruiters
**Source – Ambitionbox
*Source – idreamcareer
3. Product Development Engineer
Adopting this role could be the best opportunity after chemical engineering. These engineers focus on developing new products or improving existing ones. They work closely with research and development teams to create innovative products. Chemical engineers are really good at creating new products because of their strong education, analytical thinking, systematic approach, and problem-solving skills.
Key skills needed
As a product developer, it’s crucial to possess a solid grasp of both the creative and technical aspects of product development. Key skills for success in this role include creativity, effective problem-solving, good attention to detail, and excellent communication abilities.
Salary
The salary for Product Development Engineers in India can vary from ₹2.0 Lakhs to ₹14.0 Lakhs.*
Top Recruiters
Mercedes Benz Research & Development India
*Source – Ambitionbox
4. Chemical Plant Manager
One of the best opportunities after chemical engineering is to be a chemical plant manager. The job
of a chemical plant manager is to oversee the day-to-day operations of chemical manufacturing facilities, ensuring safety, efficiency, and compliance with regulations.
Key skills needed – Organisation and managerial skills, supply-chain knowledge
The projected growth rate for all industrial production managers from 2020 to 2030 is expected tobe 5%. *
Salary – The salary range for Plant Managers in India, with under 5 years of experience up to 26 years, spans from ₹6.0 LPA to ₹50.0 LPA.**
**Source – Ambitionbox
5. Process Engineer
Process engineers work to design, optimise, and oversee manufacturing processes in industries such as pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, food and beverage, and more. If you start working as a process engineer you’ll work in either one of these industries – agriculture, lifestyle, chemical, energy, infrastructure and health care. As India’s manufacturing sector expands, so do opportunities for product development engineers. The Indian Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) projects that by 2025, India’s manufacturing sector will reach US$1 trillion*, accounting for a quarter of the country’s GDP.
Key skills needed – To be a good process engineer, you need to know your way around machines and be familiar with software like AutoCAD, MATLAB, and SOLIDWORKS. Good communication skills are also vital for working well with the management.
Salary – In India, the salary for Process Engineers typically varies from ₹2.0 LPA to ₹10.2 LPA, and the average annual salary is around ₹5.8 LPA.*
Top Recruiters
**Source – Ambitionbox
*Source – Indian Brand Equity Foundation
6. Petrochemical Engineer
Engage in the extraction of oil and gas, employing the principles of chemistry and geology to extract n
atural resources from beneath the Earth’s surface. They also handle the chemicals derived from gas, coal, and petroleum. According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Chemicals and petrochemicals demand in India is expected to nearly triple and reach USD 1 trillion by 2040”*
Key skills needed
Petroleum engineers in India need to be sharp in different areas. They have to carefully plan drilling op
erations, thinking ahead to avoid problems. They also need to be creative, finding ways to get oil and gas from new places. Math skills are a must, using advanced math for designing and fixing things in the oil industry.
Salary
The annual salary of a Petroleum Engineer in India typically falls in the range of ₹2 LPA to ₹20.4 LPA, depending upon the experience with an average yearly income of ₹4.3 LPA.**
Top recruiters
*Source – Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
**Source – Ambitionbox
7. Chemical Engineering Professor
To become a professor in college, a candidate must complete his Master’s degree in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering and clear the state and national level entrance exams. In order to become a professor at renowned engineering colleges, it is advisable to pursue an MTech degree in chemical engineering, ideally followed by a PhD.
Key skills needed
The ideal candidate should be someone with good professional values, great people skills, and excellent spoken and written communication abilities. Should be able to build a strong research program, and teach both undergraduate and graduate courses effectively.
Salary
In India, the salary for a Chemical Engineering Lecturer can vary from ₹1.8 LPA to ₹30.0 LPA, with an average annual salary of ₹10.0 LPA. The Department of Higher Education, MHRD, Govt. of India has issued the minimum entry-level Professor salary in India to be Rs. 1,44,200 per month under UGC guidelines. * In addition to the basic pay, Professors will also receive academic grade pay of Rs. 10,000 as per Academic Pay-Level 14 along with additional perks & allowances like DA, HRA, medical insurance, post-retirement benefits,* etc. Top universities in India, such as IITs, IIMs, NITs, VIT Pune, Delhi University, NIFT, Christ University, and Symbiosis, offer higher salary packages.
*Source – testbook.com
Chemical Engineering Salary Trends & Sectors
Sectors for chemical engineers
- Oil & Gas Companies
- Chemical Engineering Companies
- Fertiliser Companies
- Food and Drink Companies
- Process Engineering
- Pharmaceutical Companies
- Power and Energy Companies
- Water Treatment Plants
- Colleges & Universities
- Air conditioning and refrigeration industry
Sector Wise Chemical Engineering Salary Trends
| Sector | Average Salary |
| Petroleum (Oil & Gas) | ₹ 7 LPA |
| Power & Energy | ₹ 6 LPA |
| Pharma | ₹ 5.6 LPA |
| Fertilizers | ₹ 4.8 LPA |
| Refrigeration & Air Conditioning | ₹ 4.5 LPA |
(Make an infographic for this)
(Source – College Duniya)
Top Cities to offer work opportunities after chemical engineering
Delhi – with a mix of industrial, research & government sectors. Chemical engineers earn an average of INR 12 LPA
Bangalore – “Silicon Valley of India” – The Technology Hub. The sectors mainly focus on electroni
cs, software, and biotechnology. In Bangalore’s high-tech environment, chemical engineers can earn annual salaries of up to INR 12 LPA, showcasing the city’s competitive compensation opportunities.
Kolkata – The historical significance and growing industries, present opportunities for chemical engineers in sectors like manufacturing & research. Salaries in Kolkata typically range up to INR 9.2 LPA.
Mumbai – Chemical engineers in Mumbai earn different yearly salaries, with the average usually around INR 7.8 lakhs, depending on their experience and the industry they work in.
Chennai – In Chennai, professionals in the field of chemical engineering typically receive an annual s
alary of INR 6 lakhs. The city’s robust industrial growth maintains a continuous need for individuals skilled in process optimisation and research.
Hyderabad – Hyderabad has a growing pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, providing job op
portunities for chemical engineers in research and development, quality control, and process development. Salaries in this sector can range from INR 4 to 8 LPA.
Pune – Along with the pleasant weather, the presence of chemical and automotive industries, makes it an attractive destination for chemical engineers. Entry-level salaries can range from INR 3 to 6 LPA.
Source: (Naukri.com)
Conclusion
Getting a degree in chemical engineering opens up a wide range of great career choices in different fields, and they usually come with good pay. There are also some interesting government job options. You can even explore other careers like biotechnology and food science. If you continue your education and get some extra certifications, you can make your job prospects even better. Chemical engineering is a flexible and valuable field with lots of chances for success.
