Salary guide, May 2025
Process Development 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 Process Development Engineer · Pay range finder
How should you read Process Development Engineer metro ranking?
Process Development Engineer metro ranking: Process Development 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 Process Development Engineer metro ranking: Process Development 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 Process Development Engineer metro ranking: Process Development 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 Process Development Engineer metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Process Development Engineer metro ranking: Process Development 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 Process Development Engineer metro ranking: Process Development 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 Process Development Engineer metro ranking: Process Development 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 Process Development Engineer metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Process Development Engineer metro ranking: Process Development 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 Process Development Engineer metro ranking: Process Development 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 Process Development Engineer metro ranking: Process Development 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 Process Development Engineer metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Which questions matter for Process Development Engineer metro ranking?
Process Development Engineer metro ranking: Process Development 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 Process Development Engineer metro ranking give an exact offer for my plant?
Process Development Engineer metro ranking: Process Development 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 Process Development Engineer metro ranking describe?
For the same Process Development Engineer metro ranking: Process Development 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 Process Development Engineer metro ranking measure available candidates?
The Process Development Engineer metro ranking: Process Development 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 Process Development Engineer metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Process Development Engineer source figures · Process Development Engineer source figures · Process Development Engineer source figures · Methodology
What does this ranking mean for your opening?
Hiring a Process Development Engineer requires finding someone capable of assessing the uncertainty of experimental processes moving from trials into stable production. This role is not for someone focused on routine maintenance or sustaining work; it is for an engineer who can establish and defend operating limits.
Recruiter's read. Qualitative interpretation, not another BLS estimate.
Hiring a Process Development Engineer requires finding someone capable of assessing the uncertainty of experimental processes moving from trials into stable production. This role is not for someone focused on routine maintenance or sustaining work; it is for an engineer who can establish and defend operating limits. Before you start, ensure you have a clear definition of where this person's responsibility begins and ends to avoid overlapping with current process sustaining teams.
National salary data for Chemical Engineers is far too broad to serve as a reliable guide for this specific engineering development niche. Do not use these figures to plan your offer, as they do not capture the market value of talent with specialized pilot operation and scale-up experience. The candidates you need are currently doing complex development work in specific industries and will not be impressed by generic salary offers based on non-specific sector reports.
To attract a development engineer with the experience you need, your opening must present a challenge that their current role cannot offer. They are typically already engaged in complex work, and they will only consider moving if your opportunity offers a clear and significant increase in their responsibility for defining experimental processes. If your role does not provide this tangible shift, they will likely remain in their current position, especially given the likelihood of a counteroffer.
The interview should center on how they established operating limits during a trial before a production handoff. This requires a practical, hands-on understanding of development risks and the ability to explain them to others. If a candidate cannot clearly describe the trial process, the data they used, or how they communicated the risks to the production team, they may not possess the level of development authority you require.
Your search should focus on where qualified process development engineers are already working, such as pilot operations or manufacturing scale-up groups. Engaging these people directly and clearly outlining your expectations for the role will save you time and lead to a more successful outcome. By prioritizing their practical, real-world development experience over theoretical knowledge or salary benchmarks, you position your plant to hire someone who can truly deliver results.
What should you know about questions before using this pay map?
What is the core difference between development and sustaining work?
Development work requires managing experimental uncertainty and defining new limits. Sustaining work involves routine troubleshooting and maintaining existing, established processes.
Should I use national salary data to set my offer?
No, national chemical engineering salary data is too broad. It does not reflect the specialized skills required for process scale-up, and using it will likely lead to an uncompetitive offer.
What should the interview test for?
Test their ability to define operating limits based on trial data. They must show they can communicate these limits and their associated risks before a handover to production.
What if the candidate has only done sustaining work?
They may lack the experience with experimental uncertainty and trial-based development that you need. Verify their specific experience in moving processes from pilot to full-scale production.