Salary guide, May 2025
MS&T 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.
How should you read MS&T Engineer metro ranking?
MS&T Engineer metro ranking: MS&T 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 MS&T Engineer metro ranking: MS&T 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 MS&T Engineer metro ranking: MS&T 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 MS&T Engineer metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
MS&T Engineer metro ranking: MS&T 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 MS&T Engineer metro ranking: MS&T 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 MS&T Engineer metro ranking: MS&T 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 MS&T Engineer metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
MS&T Engineer metro ranking: MS&T 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 MS&T Engineer metro ranking: MS&T 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 MS&T Engineer metro ranking: MS&T 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 MS&T Engineer metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Which questions matter for MS&T Engineer metro ranking?
MS&T Engineer metro ranking: MS&T 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.
Does MS&T Engineer metro ranking give an exact offer for my plant?
MS&T Engineer metro ranking: MS&T 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 MS&T Engineer metro ranking describe?
For the same MS&T Engineer metro ranking: MS&T 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 MS&T Engineer metro ranking measure available candidates?
The MS&T Engineer metro ranking: MS&T 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 MS&T Engineer metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
MS&T Engineer source figures · MS&T Engineer source figures · MS&T Engineer source figures · Methodology
What does this ranking mean for your opening?
Focus your interview process on the candidate's history with failed batches and their approach to root-cause investigations. A candidate who can describe exactly what they showed an investigator during an audit is demonstrating the professional competence you need to pay for.
Recruiter's read. Qualitative interpretation, not another BLS estimate.
The role of an MS&T engineer is the crucial bridge between laboratory innovation and commercial manufacturing, yet the wage data available for broader chemical engineering occupations masks the scarcity of this talent. When hiring managers look at regional medians, they are seeing data for a wide range of roles that do not include the rigorous cGMP, technology transfer, and validation requirements of the pharmaceutical industry. The compensation for an MS&T engineer must be based on their specialized ability to manage tech transfer risks and maintain audit-ready documentation.
You should recognize that the best MS&T engineers are already embedded in complex biologics or solid dose manufacturing sites. Attracting them requires acknowledging their specific modality experience, whether that is aseptic fill-finish, purification, or granulation. The regional wage snapshot is a poor reflection of the competitive pay necessary to move a candidate who has successfully managed a PPQ protocol and handled unexpected batch deviations under regulatory pressure. This level of risk management is directly linked to your facility's ability to maintain its license to operate.
The regional employment counts provided reflect a vast, diverse industry. Within this data, only a small percentage of individuals possess the technical writing and project-management skills to lead a transfer between sites while maintaining strict compliance. Using local metro statistics to guide your budget may result in an offer that is misaligned with the market for this specific type of high-stakes oversight. Instead, calculate your offer based on the specific transfer projects they have led and their ability to bridge the communication gap between development and the plant floor.
Focus your interview process on the candidate's history with failed batches and their approach to root-cause investigations. A candidate who can describe exactly what they showed an investigator during an audit is demonstrating the professional competence you need to pay for. This level of accountability is not indexed in the provided salary ranges, so prioritize finding the candidate with the strongest regulatory and process ownership over someone who matches the regional wage median.
In summary, focus the offer on the authority and impact of the role rather than generic benchmarks. A skilled MS&T engineer knows they carry significant responsibility for product quality and regulatory compliance. They will value an environment that recognizes this, so ensure your compensation package is calibrated to their unique ability to keep products moving to patients safely, even if that means exceeding the regional median for generic chemical engineering roles.
What should you know about questions before using this pay map?
The general chemical engineering median is far too broad to capture the specialized market value of an MS&T engineer, especially one with cGMP expertise. Base your salary offer on the candidate’s specific history with tech transfer projects and audit performance.
Is it realistic to use the chemical engineer median as a benchmark for an MS&T engineer?
The general chemical engineering median is far too broad to capture the specialized market value of an MS&T engineer, especially one with cGMP expertise. Base your salary offer on the candidate’s specific history with tech transfer projects and audit performance.
Do wage medians vary enough between metros to justify different starting salaries for MS&T engineers?
Wage variances are primarily driven by local economic conditions, not the specific market scarcity of MS&T talent. When hiring, concentrate on the expertise and the specific modality fit the candidate brings to your facility rather than adjusting solely for the metro’s average pay.
What if an MS&T candidate asks for pay significantly above the p75 of the regional metro data?
If the candidate has proven experience managing high-stakes technology transfers or surviving rigorous FDA inspections, they possess a premium skill set that is not well-represented in regional ranges. Pay for the quality of their work and their ability to minimize your compliance risk.
How can I better understand the market demand for MS&T engineers beyond salary reports?
Look at the specific expertise required for your modality, such as cell culture or aseptic fill-finish. The true market demand is for specialists who can bridge the gap between lab-scale development and production, which is a niche and competitive pool.