Top 10 Careers for Chemical Engineering Graduates

Chemical engineering is a versatile degree that provides access to a wide range of job opportunities to apply the unique skillset and technical knowledge developed through a chemical engineering education.  As a chemical engineering graduate, there are a wide range of fields to work in such as bioprocessing, minerals, petrochemicals, process control, and environmental fields. If you’re looking for inspiration on which career paths are available as a recent or final-year chemical engineering student, look no further than these exciting and rewarding career options that shape our world to drive technological advancement.  

1. Process Engineer

• Median salary CAD: $50.43/hour or $104,894/year
• Job description: Process engineers design, implement, control, and optimize industrial processes and machinery.  They implement process enhancements to increase efficiency and reduce costs, troubleshoot operating process equipment and recommend solutions, maintain process documentation, and develop economic feasibility studies of engineering designs and proposals. 
• Some relevant industries to work in:
  • Petrochemical/ Oil and gas
  • Chemical manufacturing
• Some required skills:
  • Strong foundation in engineering principles, including chemical processes, materials science, thermodynamics, and fluid mechanics
  • Aspen HYSIS/Plus
  • CHEMCAD

2. Food Processing Engineer

• Median salary (CAD): $44.00/hour or $91,520/year
• Job description: Food processing engineers design, develop, and optimize food processes and equipment for producing, processing, packaging, and distributing food products. They ensure that the food processing activities comply with health, safety, and environmental regulations. 
• Some relevant industries to work in:
  • Food and beverage manufacturing
  • Biorefining
  • Flavour and ingredient manufacturing
• Some required skills:
  • Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
  • Quality assurance and control
  • Food product development

3. Water Treatment Engineer

• Median salary (CAD): $45.00/hour or $93,600/year
• Job description: Water treatment engineers design, implement, and oversee processes and systems that effectively manage water resources and ensure water quality. They optimize existing plant water treatment processes to improve cost, energy efficiency, and reliability. Water treatment engineers conduct water quality sampling and analysis to monitor for parameters such as pH, turbidity, and dissolved chemical concentrations.
• Some relevant industries to work in: 
  • Engineering consulting
  • Chemical manufacturing
  • Agriculture
• Some required skills: 
  • AutoCAD
  • Cost estimation
  • Hydraulic modelling

4. Pollution Control Engineer

• Median salary (CAD): $45.00/hour or $93,600/year
• Job description: Pollution control engineers design, implement and monitor systems and processes to reduce and manage pollution and waste. They enforce and perform compliance checks with environmental regulations and conduct environmental impact assessments. Pollution control engineers plan, install, and maintain pollution control devices and systems.
• Some relevant industries to work in: 
  • Water and wastewater treatment
  • Metals and mining
  • Construction
• Some required skills: 
  • Regulatory Compliance
  • Risk assessments
  • Air quality management

5. Plastic Engineer

• Median salary (CAD): $50.43/hour or $104,894/year
• Job description: Plastics engineers work with various types of plastics to develop, design, and improve plastic products and processes. They use computer-aided design (CAD) software to create detailed product designs and specifications for plastic parts
• Some relevant industries to work in: 
  • Automotive
  • Packaging
  • Electrical and telecommunications
• Some required skills: 
  • Sigma
  • Extrusion
  • Computer-aided Design (CAD)

6. Quality Control Engineer

• Median salary (CAD): $40.87/hour or $85,009/year
• Job description: Quality control engineers ensure high-quality products in various industries. They review production processes, conduct quality testing on products, develop new manufacturing checkpoints, and write technical reports on the quality testing results. They ensure that the company’s products meet all industry standards and federal regulations.
• Some relevant industries to work in: 
  • Drug manufacturing
  • Biotechnology
  • Medical device manufacturing
• Some required skills: 
  • Quality control
  • AutoCAD
  • Internal Auditing

7. Pulp and Paper Engineer

• Median salary (CAD): $50.43/hour or $104,894/year
• Job description: Pulp and paper engineers are involved in the entire paper manufacturing process, from sourcing raw materials to designing and optimizing pulp and paper production facilities.  They evaluate and select appropriate raw materials for pulp production and consult with forestry experts to ensure responsible and sustainable practices. They also implement quality control measures to ensure the produced paper complies with industry standards and customer specifications. 
• Some relevant industries to work in: 
  • Pulp and paper manufacturing
  • Printing and publishing
  • Engineering Consulting
• Some required skills: 
  • Equipment management
  • Pulping and bleaching
  • Papermaking

8. Environmental Engineer

• Median salary (CAD): $45.00/hour or $93,600/year
• Job description: Environmental engineers use environmental science principles to create technical solutions that address public health, sustainability, and pollution. They collect environmental samples and data and perform land assessments. Moreover, they design and develop waste management plans that involve safe handling and waste minimization.
• Some relevant industries to work in: 
  • Chemical manufacturing
  • Oil and gas
  • Agriculture
• Some required skills: 
  • GIS (Geographic Information Systems)
  • Water quality monitoring and testing
  • Project management

9. Polymer Engineer

• Median salary (CAD): $50.43/hour or $104,894/year
• Job description: Polymer engineers develop and manufacture polymers such as epoxy, plastic, and nylon. They analyze the need for polymers for product designs and projects. They use techniques such as extrusion and injection moulding to optimize the manufacturing processes of polymers.
• Some relevant industries to work in: 
  • Automotive
  • Textiles and apparel
  • Petrochemical
• Some required skills:
  • Infrared spectroscopy
  • Root cause analysis
  • Thermogravimetric analysis

10. Adhesives Engineer

• Median salary (CAD): $50.43/hour or $104,894/year
• Job description: Adhesives engineers develop, optimize, test, and implement adhesive materials and solutions in various industries. They work with a wide range of adhesives, from simple glues to epoxy adhesives. They troubleshoot issues such as bonding, material compatibility, and curing.
• Some relevant industries to work in: 
  • Electronic
  • Aerospace
  • Medical devices
• Some required skills:
  • Quality control testing
  • Product design
  • Knowledge in adhesive chemistry and materials science

Being a chemical engineering graduate provides a diverse range of rewarding career paths that effectively use natural resources into useful products and services for consumers. The versatile skillset that chemical engineering student develop during their education are also in demand. There are more career paths for chemical engineering graduates beyond this list, so feel free to explore more roles that match your career interests.  

NOTE: Please note that the job requirements for each highlighted career path may vary depending on the company that is offering opportunities for these career paths. Moreover, the salaries for these career paths depend on the city or province you are located in, educational attainment, and the companies’ stated salaries for these job opportunities.