Salary guide, May 2025
Extrusion Process Engineer pay by metro, ranked
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
Of 393 metros, BLS published an exact annual median for 77. The highest is Albuquerque, NM at $163,380 and the lowest is Lansing-East Lansing, MI at $66,230. 0 more are published but not rankable and 316 are not published by bls.
Broader occupation · SOC 17-2041 Chemical Engineers
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title.
- Albuquerque, NM$163,380
- Pittsburgh, PA$152,290
- Fort Collins-Loveland, CO$139,220
- Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$138,120
- Mobile, AL$137,170
- New Orleans-Metairie, LA$136,870
- Lake Charles, LA$136,810
- Trenton-Princeton, NJ$135,110
- Baton Rouge, LA$134,800
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$134,210
- Rochester, NY$133,740
- St. Louis, MO-IL$133,450
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$132,820
- Toledo, OH$132,760
- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$131,690
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$130,520
- Kennewick-Richland, WA$130,030
- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX$129,850
- Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX$129,790
- Charleston-North Charleston, SC$129,070
- Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY$129,060
- Wichita, KS$128,780
- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$128,610
- Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$128,110
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$127,770
Bars show the top 25 of 77 ranked. The table below lists all 77. Literal BLS medians, May 2025.
| Rank | Metro | BLS occupation | 25th | Median | 75th | Employment | LQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albuquerque, NM | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $86,100 | $163,380 | $163,380 | 80 | 1.44 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh, PA | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $96,720 | $152,290 | $174,940 | 110 | 0.71 |
| 3 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $101,510 | $139,220 | $139,220 | 40 | 1.74 |
| 4 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $126,290 | $138,120 | $178,720 | 1,510 | 3.4 |
| 5 | Mobile, AL | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $103,940 | $137,170 | $137,170 | 150 | 6.24 |
| 6 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $106,140 | $136,870 | $164,440 | 190 | 3.12 |
| 7 | Lake Charles, LA | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $115,530 | $136,810 | $177,790 | 100 | 7.16 |
| 8 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $104,330 | $135,110 | $176,880 | 40 | 1.24 |
| 9 | Baton Rouge, LA | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $107,790 | $134,800 | $165,580 | 360 | 6.5 |
| 10 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $100,680 | $134,210 | $168,110 | 320 | 0.37 |
| 11 | Rochester, NY | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $127,090 | $133,740 | $133,740 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| 12 | St. Louis, MO-IL | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $106,850 | $133,450 | $166,480 | 110 | 0.62 |
| 13 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $97,820 | $132,820 | $162,260 | 640 | 1.51 |
| 14 | Toledo, OH | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $111,180 | $132,760 | $174,680 | 70 | 1.81 |
| 15 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $109,050 | $131,690 | $164,390 | 70 | 0.42 |
| 16 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $105,060 | $130,520 | $168,960 | 130 | 0.24 |
| 17 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $100,820 | $130,030 | $166,910 | 320 | 18.03 |
| 18 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $107,420 | $129,850 | $166,250 | 140 | 6.46 |
| 19 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $98,490 | $129,790 | $213,680 | 60 | 0.34 |
| 20 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $93,340 | $129,070 | $145,460 | 50 | 0.87 |
| 21 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $93,970 | $129,060 | $146,180 | 40 | 0.58 |
| 22 | Wichita, KS | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $98,430 | $128,780 | $161,350 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| 23 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $80,830 | $128,610 | $156,750 | 180 | 0.97 |
| 24 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $100,780 | $128,110 | $152,730 | 410 | 1.88 |
| 25 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $97,660 | $127,770 | $161,550 | 790 | 2 |
| 26 | Tulsa, OK | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $107,880 | $127,360 | $174,140 | 50 | 0.83 |
| 27 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $95,480 | $126,830 | $149,210 | 510 | 0.39 |
| 28 | Corpus Christi, TX | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $100,040 | $126,690 | $153,170 | 100 | 3.7 |
| 29 | Boulder, CO | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $82,740 | $125,800 | $158,940 | 190 | 7.35 |
| 30 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $105,430 | $125,200 | $151,540 | 230 | 0.82 |
| 31 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $99,870 | $123,860 | $158,000 | 50 | 0.95 |
| 32 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $90,980 | $122,730 | $172,090 | 170 | 0.64 |
| 33 | Evansville, IN | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $105,410 | $120,990 | $164,530 | 60 | 3.3 |
| 34 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $104,030 | $118,010 | $119,030 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| 35 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $102,410 | $117,440 | $143,040 | 110 | 2.37 |
| 36 | Richmond, VA | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $82,270 | $117,150 | $125,390 | 60 | 0.69 |
| 37 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $100,780 | $115,890 | $141,840 | 110 | 0.61 |
| 38 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $95,870 | $114,800 | $152,170 | 100 | 1.23 |
| 39 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $87,840 | $112,770 | $144,600 | 70 | 0.9 |
| 40 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $95,980 | $111,980 | $115,600 | 50 | 0.13 |
| 41 | Peoria, IL | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $97,470 | $111,880 | $122,740 | 30 | 1.44 |
| 42 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $94,460 | $111,210 | $146,210 | 90 | 0.85 |
| 43 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $89,990 | $110,960 | $122,060 | 40 | 0.42 |
| 44 | Columbus, OH | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $90,930 | $110,860 | $148,310 | 170 | 1.16 |
| 45 | Springfield, MA | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $87,600 | $110,770 | $127,900 | 40 | 1.48 |
| 46 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $94,170 | $110,760 | $139,520 | 370 | 0.6 |
| 47 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $101,040 | $110,000 | $130,840 | 30 | 0.16 |
| 48 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $79,110 | $109,460 | $144,030 | 910 | 2.48 |
| 49 | Columbus, IN | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $109,190 | $109,190 | $121,750 | 40 | 6.46 |
| 50 | Decatur, AL | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $107,880 | $109,160 | $140,690 | 60 | 7.25 |
| 51 | Akron, OH | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $96,170 | $108,710 | $169,540 | 40 | 1.01 |
| 52 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $79,690 | $108,570 | $128,690 | 30 | 0.41 |
| 53 | Cleveland, OH | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $97,700 | $108,350 | $126,260 | 240 | 1.69 |
| 54 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $78,730 | $107,610 | $131,490 | 300 | 2 |
| 55 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $98,490 | $107,240 | $132,950 | 80 | 1.54 |
| 56 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $80,120 | $106,950 | $145,470 | 80 | 0.83 |
| 57 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $98,990 | $106,200 | $131,230 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| 58 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $90,710 | $104,230 | $125,400 | 220 | 0.84 |
| 59 | Worcester, MA | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $97,560 | $104,060 | $127,190 | 260 | 5.5 |
| 60 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $83,310 | $103,520 | $132,980 | 230 | 0.58 |
| 61 | New Haven, CT | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $101,420 | $102,850 | $119,080 | 60 | 1.56 |
| 62 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $80,230 | $102,590 | $129,520 | 60 | 1.23 |
| 63 | Kansas City, MO-KS | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $101,810 | $102,320 | $128,530 | 380 | 2.54 |
| 64 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $86,570 | $101,750 | $103,610 | 50 | 2.96 |
| 65 | Huntsville, AL | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $80,720 | $101,480 | $131,680 | 60 | 1.74 |
| 66 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $86,580 | $101,410 | $139,840 | 180 | 2.18 |
| 67 | Reading, PA | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $82,000 | $100,190 | $100,190 | 50 | 2.16 |
| 68 | Omaha, NE-IA | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $78,850 | $98,480 | $133,180 | 90 | 1.39 |
| 69 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $84,390 | $98,350 | $130,630 | 40 | 1.72 |
| 70 | Ogden, UT | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $81,890 | $98,090 | $125,510 | 80 | 2.21 |
| 71 | Madison, WI | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $83,550 | $97,190 | $113,690 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| 72 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $82,750 | $96,190 | $109,720 | 50 | 2.73 |
| 73 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $80,860 | $86,820 | $119,590 | 60 | 0.96 |
| 74 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $85,520 | $85,520 | $110,190 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| 75 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $81,840 | $81,840 | $81,840 | 90 | 2.07 |
| 76 | Ann Arbor, MI | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $62,250 | $78,660 | $116,230 | 50 | 1.77 |
| 77 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | Chemical Engineers (17-2041) | $66,230 | $66,230 | $66,230 | 50 | 1.8 |
What should you know about not published by BLS?
Abilene, TX, Aguadilla, PR, Albany, GA, Albany, OR, Alexandria, LA, Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ, Altoona, PA, Amarillo, TX, Ames, IA, Amherst Town-Northampton, MA, Anchorage, AK, Anniston-Oxford, AL, Appleton, WI, Arecibo, PR, Asheville, NC, Athens-Clarke County, GA, Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ, Auburn-Opelika, AL, Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC, Bakersfield-Delano, CA, Bangor, ME, Barnstable Town, MA, Battle Creek, MI, Bay City, MI, Beckley, WV, Bellingham, WA, Bend, OR, Billings, MT, Binghamton, NY, Birmingham, AL, Bismarck, ND, Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA, Bloomington, IL, Bloomington, IN, Boise City, ID, Bowling Green, KY, Bozeman, MT, Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA, Brownsville-Harlingen, TX, Brunswick-St. Simons, GA, Burlington, NC, Burlington-South Burlington, VT, Canton-Massillon, OH, Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL, Cape Girardeau, MO-IL, Carson City, NV, Casper, WY, Cedar Rapids, IA, Chambersburg, PA, Champaign-Urbana, IL, Charleston, WV, Charlottesville, VA, Chattanooga, TN-GA, Cheyenne, WY, Chico, CA, Clarksville, TN-KY, Cleveland, TN, Coeur d'Alene, ID, College Station-Bryan, TX, Colorado Springs, CO, Columbia, MO, Columbia, SC, Columbus, GA-AL, Corvallis, OR, Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL, Dalton, GA, Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL, Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL, Decatur, IL, Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, Dothan, AL, Dover, DE, Dubuque, IA, Duluth, MN-WI, Eagle Pass, TX, Eau Claire, WI, El Centro, CA, Elizabethtown, KY, Elkhart-Goshen, IN, Elmira, NY, El Paso, TX, Enid, OK, Erie, PA, Eugene-Springfield, OR, Fairbanks-College, AK, Fargo, ND-MN, Farmington, NM, Fayetteville, NC, Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR, Flagstaff, AZ, Flint, MI, Florence, SC, Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL, Fond du Lac, WI, Fort Smith, AR-OK, Fort Wayne, IN, Fresno, CA, Gadsden, AL, Gainesville, FL, Gainesville, GA, Gettysburg, PA, Glens Falls, NY, Goldsboro, NC, Grand Forks, ND-MN, Grand Island, NE, Grand Junction, CO, Grants Pass, OR, Great Falls, MT, Greeley, CO, Green Bay, WI, Greensboro-High Point, NC, Greenville, NC, Guayama, PR, Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV, Hammond, LA, Hanford-Corcoran, CA, Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA, Harrisonburg, VA, Hattiesburg, MS, Helena, MT, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC, Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC, Hinesville, GA, Homosassa Springs, FL, Hot Springs, AR, Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA, Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Idaho Falls, ID, Iowa City, IA, Ithaca, NY, Jackson, MI, Jackson, MS, Jackson, TN, Jacksonville, FL, Jacksonville, NC, Janesville-Beloit, WI, Jefferson City, MO, Johnson City, TN, Johnstown, PA, Jonesboro, AR, Joplin, MO-KS, Kahului-Wailuku, HI, Kankakee, IL, Kenosha, WI, Killeen-Temple, TX, Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA, Kingston, NY, Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY, Knoxville, TN, Kokomo, IN, La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN, Lafayette, LA, Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN, Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ, Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL, Lancaster, PA, Laredo, TX, Las Cruces, NM, Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV, Lawrence, KS, Lawton, OK, Lebanon, PA, Lewiston, ID-WA, Lewiston-Auburn, ME, Lexington-Fayette, KY, Lexington Park, MD, Lima, OH, Lincoln, NE, Logan, UT-ID, Longview, TX, Longview-Kelso, WA, Lubbock, TX, Lynchburg, VA, Macon-Bibb County, GA, Manchester-Nashua, NH, distribution management software, KS, Mankato, MN, Mansfield, OH, Mayaguez, PR, McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX, Medford, OR, Merced, CA, Michigan City-La Porte, IN, Midland, MI, Midland, TX, Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI, Minot, ND, Missoula, MT, Modesto, CA, Monroe, LA, Monroe, MI, Montgomery, AL, Morgantown, WV, Morristown, TN, Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA, Muncie, IN, Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI, Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC, Napa, CA, Naples-Marco Island, FL, Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN, Niles, MI, North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL, Ocala, FL, Odessa, TX, Oklahoma City, OK, Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA, Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL, Oshkosh-Neenah, WI, Owensboro, KY, Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA, Paducah, KY-IL, Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL, Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL, Parkersburg-Vienna, WV, Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL, Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ, Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC, Pittsfield, MA, Pocatello, ID, Ponce, PR, Portland-South Portland, ME, Port St. Lucie, FL, Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ, Pueblo, CO, Punta Gorda, FL, Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI, Rapid City, SD, Redding, CA, Reno, NV, Roanoke, VA, Rochester, MN, Rockford, IL, Rocky Mount, NC, Rome, GA, Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA, Saginaw, MI, St. Cloud, MN, St. George, UT, St. Joseph, MO-KS, Salem, OR, Salinas, CA, Salisbury, MD, San Angelo, TX, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA, Sandusky, OH, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR, San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA, Santa Fe, NM, Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA, Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA, Savannah, GA, Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA, Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL, Sebring, FL, Sheboygan, WI, Sherman-Denison, TX, Shreveport-Bossier City, LA, Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ, Sioux City, IA-NE-SD, Sioux Falls, SD-MN, Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA, South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI, Spartanburg, SC, Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA, Springfield, IL, Springfield, MO, Springfield, OH, State College, PA, Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA, Stockton-Lodi, CA, Sumter, SC, Syracuse, NY, Tallahassee, FL, Terre Haute, IN, Texarkana, TX-AR, Topeka, KS, Traverse City, MI, Tucson, AZ, Tuscaloosa, AL, Twin Falls, ID, Tyler, TX, Urban Honolulu, HI, Utica-Rome, NY, Valdosta, GA, Vallejo, CA, Victoria, TX, Vineland, NJ, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC, Visalia, CA, Waco, TX, Walla Walla, WA, Warner Robins, GA, Waterbury-Shelton, CT, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, Watertown-Fort Drum, NY, Wausau, WI, Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH, Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA, Wheeling, WV-OH, Wichita Falls, TX, Wildwood-The Villages, FL, Williamsport, PA, Wilmington, NC, Winchester, VA-WV, Winston-Salem, NC, Yakima, WA, York-Hanover, PA, Youngstown-Warren, OH, Yuba City, CA, Yuma, AZ.
What should you know about role pay against all occupations, by metro?
Ratio = this role's published median divided by the all-occupations median in the same metro, same units, both exact. A ratio above 1.00 means the role's median is higher than the metro's all-occupations median. It makes no cost-of-living claim. Location quotient (LQ) is employment concentration, not a wage index.
- Albuquerque, NM3.40
- Pittsburgh, PA3.07
- Lake Charles, LA2.99
- Mobile, AL2.92
- New Orleans-Metairie, LA2.89
- Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX2.80
- Corpus Christi, TX2.79
- Baton Rouge, LA2.77
- Toledo, OH2.75
- Tulsa, OK2.73
- Wichita, KS2.70
- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX2.67
- St. Louis, MO-IL2.67
- Charleston-North Charleston, SC2.63
- Rochester, NY2.61
- Evansville, IN2.60
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX2.54
- Fort Collins-Loveland, CO2.52
- Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH2.48
- Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI2.41
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA2.40
- Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN2.39
- Decatur, AL2.36
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD2.35
- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC2.32
Bars show the highest 25 of 77. The table lists all.
| Metro | Role median | All-occupations median | Ratio | LQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | $163,380 | $48,060 | 3.40 | 1.44 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $152,290 | $49,650 | 3.07 | 0.71 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $136,810 | $45,700 | 2.99 | 7.16 |
| Mobile, AL | $137,170 | $47,000 | 2.92 | 6.24 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $136,870 | $47,290 | 2.89 | 3.12 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $138,120 | $49,410 | 2.80 | 3.4 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $126,690 | $45,350 | 2.79 | 3.7 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $134,800 | $48,710 | 2.77 | 6.5 |
| Toledo, OH | $132,760 | $48,220 | 2.75 | 1.81 |
| Tulsa, OK | $127,360 | $46,670 | 2.73 | 0.83 |
| Wichita, KS | $128,780 | $47,630 | 2.70 | Not published by BLS |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $129,850 | $48,630 | 2.67 | 6.46 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $133,450 | $49,990 | 2.67 | 0.62 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $129,070 | $49,150 | 2.63 | 0.87 |
| Rochester, NY | $133,740 | $51,210 | 2.61 | Not published by BLS |
| Evansville, IN | $120,990 | $46,540 | 2.60 | 3.3 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $130,520 | $51,440 | 2.54 | 0.24 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $139,220 | $55,310 | 2.52 | 1.74 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $123,860 | $49,980 | 2.48 | 0.95 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $114,800 | $47,570 | 2.41 | 1.23 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $134,210 | $55,850 | 2.40 | 0.37 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $118,010 | $49,340 | 2.39 | Not published by BLS |
| Decatur, AL | $109,160 | $46,280 | 2.36 | 7.25 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $127,770 | $54,310 | 2.35 | 2 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $115,890 | $49,990 | 2.32 | 0.61 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $108,570 | $46,890 | 2.32 | 0.41 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $111,980 | $48,640 | 2.30 | 0.13 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $110,960 | $48,370 | 2.29 | 0.42 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $129,790 | $56,950 | 2.28 | 0.34 |
| Richmond, VA | $117,150 | $51,460 | 2.28 | 0.69 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $130,030 | $57,290 | 2.27 | 18.03 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $98,350 | $43,470 | 2.26 | 1.72 |
| Peoria, IL | $111,880 | $49,590 | 2.26 | 1.44 |
| Columbus, IN | $109,190 | $48,470 | 2.25 | 6.46 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $110,000 | $48,940 | 2.25 | 0.16 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $102,590 | $45,790 | 2.24 | 1.23 |
| Akron, OH | $108,710 | $48,840 | 2.23 | 1.01 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $112,770 | $50,790 | 2.22 | 0.9 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $129,060 | $58,460 | 2.21 | 0.58 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $106,200 | $48,400 | 2.19 | Not published by BLS |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $128,610 | $59,070 | 2.18 | 0.97 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $131,690 | $60,690 | 2.17 | 0.42 |
| Cleveland, OH | $108,350 | $50,140 | 2.16 | 1.69 |
| Columbus, OH | $110,860 | $51,340 | 2.16 | 1.16 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $107,610 | $50,170 | 2.14 | 2 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $111,210 | $51,990 | 2.14 | 0.85 |
| Springfield, MA | $110,770 | $51,930 | 2.13 | 1.48 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $135,110 | $63,490 | 2.13 | 1.24 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $122,730 | $59,320 | 2.07 | 0.64 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $126,830 | $61,430 | 2.06 | 0.39 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $128,110 | $62,320 | 2.06 | 1.88 |
| Reading, PA | $100,190 | $49,440 | 2.03 | 2.16 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $110,760 | $54,720 | 2.02 | 0.6 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $103,520 | $51,170 | 2.02 | 0.58 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $102,320 | $50,820 | 2.01 | 2.54 |
| Ogden, UT | $98,090 | $48,900 | 2.01 | 2.21 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $104,230 | $52,080 | 2.00 | 0.84 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $106,950 | $53,680 | 1.99 | 0.83 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $98,480 | $49,660 | 1.98 | 1.39 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $96,190 | $48,510 | 1.98 | 2.73 |
| Huntsville, AL | $101,480 | $51,740 | 1.96 | 1.74 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $117,440 | $60,720 | 1.93 | 2.37 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $132,820 | $71,060 | 1.87 | 1.51 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $86,820 | $46,580 | 1.86 | 0.96 |
| Boulder, CO | $125,800 | $69,580 | 1.81 | 7.35 |
| Worcester, MA | $104,060 | $57,830 | 1.80 | 5.5 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $101,750 | $57,370 | 1.77 | 2.96 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $107,240 | $61,470 | 1.74 | 1.54 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $125,200 | $72,610 | 1.72 | 0.82 |
| New Haven, CT | $102,850 | $60,060 | 1.71 | 1.56 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $81,840 | $48,010 | 1.70 | 2.07 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $101,410 | $59,940 | 1.69 | 2.18 |
| Madison, WI | $97,190 | $58,080 | 1.67 | Not published by BLS |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $109,460 | $66,620 | 1.64 | 2.48 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $85,520 | $55,240 | 1.55 | Not published by BLS |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $78,660 | $55,380 | 1.42 | 1.77 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $66,230 | $52,800 | 1.25 | 1.8 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 17-2041 Chemical Engineers, Albuquerque. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
National page for Extrusion Process Engineer · Pay range finder
How should you read Extrusion Process Engineer metro ranking?
Extrusion Process Engineer metro ranking: Extrusion Process Engineer, mapped to Chemical Engineers (17-2041), in Albuquerque, NM has a published annual median of $163,380 for 2025-05. This is an occupation estimate across employers, not a quoted starting rate for your opening. Read the occupation name with the amount.
A narrower plant title does not turn a broader BLS occupation into a separately measured job.
For the same Extrusion Process Engineer metro ranking: Extrusion Process Engineer, mapped to Chemical Engineers (17-2041), in Albuquerque, NM row, the published lower quartile is $86,100 and the upper quartile is $163,380. These are wage distribution points, not junior and senior job grades. A person’s equipment knowledge, shift requirements and actual duties still need a separate discussion. A missing percentile stays missing rather than being filled from another occupation.
The Extrusion Process Engineer metro ranking: Extrusion Process Engineer, mapped to Chemical Engineers (17-2041), in Albuquerque, NM employment estimate is 80. Employment describes people already working in the measured occupation and area. It does not count available applicants, people willing to move or candidates interested in your plant. Keep that distinction when using this Extrusion Process Engineer metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Extrusion Process Engineer metro ranking: Extrusion Process Engineer, mapped to Chemical Engineers (17-2041), in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY has a published annual median of $112,770 for 2025-05. This is an occupation estimate across employers, not a quoted starting rate for your opening. Read the occupation name with the amount. A narrower plant title does not turn a broader BLS occupation into a separately measured job.
For the same Extrusion Process Engineer metro ranking: Extrusion Process Engineer, mapped to Chemical Engineers (17-2041), in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY row, the published lower quartile is $87,840 and the upper quartile is $144,600. These are wage distribution points, not junior and senior job grades. A person’s equipment knowledge, shift requirements and actual duties still need a separate discussion. A missing percentile stays missing rather than being filled from another occupation.
The Extrusion Process Engineer metro ranking: Extrusion Process Engineer, mapped to Chemical Engineers (17-2041), in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY employment estimate is 70. Employment describes people already working in the measured occupation and area. It does not count available applicants, people willing to move or candidates interested in your plant. Keep that distinction when using this Extrusion Process Engineer metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Extrusion Process Engineer metro ranking: Extrusion Process Engineer, mapped to Chemical Engineers (17-2041), in Lansing-East Lansing, MI has a published annual median of $66,230 for 2025-05. This is an occupation estimate across employers, not a quoted starting rate for your opening. Read the occupation name with the amount. A narrower plant title does not turn a broader BLS occupation into a separately measured job.
For the same Extrusion Process Engineer metro ranking: Extrusion Process Engineer, mapped to Chemical Engineers (17-2041), in Lansing-East Lansing, MI row, the published lower quartile is $66,230 and the upper quartile is $66,230. These are wage distribution points, not junior and senior job grades. A person’s equipment knowledge, shift requirements and actual duties still need a separate discussion. A missing percentile stays missing rather than being filled from another occupation.
The Extrusion Process Engineer metro ranking: Extrusion Process Engineer, mapped to Chemical Engineers (17-2041), in Lansing-East Lansing, MI employment estimate is 50. Employment describes people already working in the measured occupation and area. It does not count available applicants, people willing to move or candidates interested in your plant. Keep that distinction when using this Extrusion Process Engineer metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Which questions matter for Extrusion Process Engineer metro ranking?
Extrusion Process Engineer metro ranking: Extrusion Process Engineer, mapped to Chemical Engineers (17-2041), in Albuquerque, NM has a published annual median of $163,380 for 2025-05. This is an occupation estimate across employers, not a quoted starting rate for your opening.
Does Extrusion Process Engineer metro ranking give an exact offer for my plant?
Extrusion Process Engineer metro ranking: Extrusion Process Engineer, mapped to Chemical Engineers (17-2041), in Albuquerque, NM has a published annual median of $163,380 for 2025-05. This is an occupation estimate across employers, not a quoted starting rate for your opening. Read the occupation name with the amount. A narrower plant title does not turn a broader BLS occupation into a separately measured job.
What does the wage band in Extrusion Process Engineer metro ranking describe?
For the same Extrusion Process Engineer metro ranking: Extrusion Process Engineer, mapped to Chemical Engineers (17-2041), in Albuquerque, NM row, the published lower quartile is $86,100 and the upper quartile is $163,380. These are wage distribution points, not junior and senior job grades. A person’s equipment knowledge, shift requirements and actual duties still need a separate discussion. A missing percentile stays missing rather than being filled from another occupation.
Does the employment figure in Extrusion Process Engineer metro ranking measure available candidates?
The Extrusion Process Engineer metro ranking: Extrusion Process Engineer, mapped to Chemical Engineers (17-2041), in Albuquerque, NM employment estimate is 80. Employment describes people already working in the measured occupation and area. It does not count available applicants, people willing to move or candidates interested in your plant. Keep that distinction when using this Extrusion Process Engineer metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Extrusion Process Engineer source figures · Extrusion Process Engineer source figures · Extrusion Process Engineer source figures · Methodology
What does this ranking mean for your opening?
Extrusion process engineering requires highly specific knowledge of bubble stability, screw design, and gauge control that is vastly different from the broad-spectrum data found in chemical engineering salary statistics. Hiring managers must realize that regional medians do not differentiate between a plant engineer who manages facilities and a true process specialist who can tune a line for optimal throughput.
Recruiter's read. Qualitative interpretation, not another BLS estimate.
Extrusion process engineering requires highly specific knowledge of bubble stability, screw design, and gauge control that is vastly different from the broad-spectrum data found in chemical engineering salary statistics. Hiring managers must realize that regional medians do not differentiate between a plant engineer who manages facilities and a true process specialist who can tune a line for optimal throughput. A specialist who knows how to quickly purge a system or diagnose a die streak is a highly valuable, scarce asset whose compensation should be based on operational outcomes.
The real market rate for an extrusion engineer is defined by their experience with your specific product form, such as film, sheet, or pipe. A candidate with this depth of experience is far more rare than the regional employment numbers suggest. Therefore, relying on regional wage averages can often lead to a disconnect where you seek a high-level expert but provide an offer that reflects a generic mechanical or chemical process role, resulting in poor response rates for your search.
Focus your salary planning on the candidate's track record of minimizing startup scrap and their proficiency with automated gauge systems. An engineer who has personally corrected a persistent surging issue or managed a complex resin transition is protecting your profit margins in a way that generalists cannot. Their ability to earn the respect of lead operators is also a crucial, non-measurable factor that differentiates a proven engineer from a baseline applicant. Ensure your offer package acknowledges this unique technical and leadership role.
When evaluating the salary snapshot, view it as a general anchor for the broader labor market rather than a target for your specific hire. Because extrusion plants run on unforgiving schedules, your best candidates will want to understand the shift and on-call expectations before settling on a salary. For Extrusion Process Engineer in the United States, OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. Commissions and production bonuses are included; overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits are excluded.
Finally, prioritize candidates who can show you they understand the plant as a system. If an engineer has answered a customer complaint by changing a line setup, they already think like an owner of your production line. This mindset is rare and directly improves your scrap numbers and reliability, making the candidate’s value obvious regardless of what the regional wage charts imply. Tailor your offer to the value they create rather than adhering to statistical medians.
What should you know about questions before using this pay map?
The chemical engineer median is a poor proxy for the specific, hands-on mechanical and process skills required for extrusion. Determine your offer based on the candidate's history of improving scrap rates and their ability to own the line's process stability.
How can I set a fair salary when the regional median for chemical engineers seems disconnected from the work?
The chemical engineer median is a poor proxy for the specific, hands-on mechanical and process skills required for extrusion. Determine your offer based on the candidate's history of improving scrap rates and their ability to own the line's process stability.
Are there specific metros where extrusion engineers earn significantly more due to local demand?
Wage variations by metro are usually tied to local industrial clusters and broader cost-of-living, not necessarily to the scarcity of extrusion experts. Your local market rate is determined more by your plant's willingness to invest in the right process talent than by the surrounding metro's wage statistics.
What is the best way to recruit someone whose salary expectations exceed the regional median?
Focus your recruiting on the technical challenge and your commitment to line improvement. proven extrusion engineers are often motivated by the opportunity to apply their expertise to a new line setup or to solve complex gauge issues that frustrate current teams.
Should I adjust my salary offer based on the candidate's experience with downstream converting?
Yes, downstream experience can be a significant differentiator, as it shows the candidate understands the end-to-end production process. Such multifaceted expertise is a valuable asset that warrants compensation above generic regional process engineer averages.