A chemical engineering degree prepares you to develop and improve technologies across industries including energy, pharmaceuticals, and food and drink
Job options
Jobs directly related to your degree include:
- Biotechnologist
- Chemical engineer
- Energy engineer
- Environmental engineer
- Manufacturing engineer
- Materials engineer
- Metallurgist
- Nuclear engineer
- Petroleum engineer
- Product/process development scientist
Jobs where your degree would be useful include:
- Analytical chemist
- Business analyst
- Energy manager
- Environmental consultant
- Food technologist
- Health and safety adviser
- Mining engineer
- Production manager
- Project manager
- Quality manager
- Sustainability consultant
- Technical sales engineer
- Water engineer
Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.
Work experience
Relevant work experience can strengthen your job applications and help you decide which areas of chemical engineering interest you most. It can also give you a clearer understanding of different industries, workplaces and graduate roles.
You may be able to complete a year in industry as part of your degree or arrange a shorter placement or internship during the summer. These opportunities allow you to apply your technical knowledge, develop practical and transferable skills, and build a network of professional contacts. Work shadowing can also provide valuable insight into the day-to-day work of chemical engineers and other professionals.
Look for opportunities across sectors such as:
- chemicals
- energy
- food and drink
- manufacturing
- pharmaceutical
- water.
Check company careers pages and speak to your university careers service or academic department about placements, projects and employer events.
Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.
Typical employers
Chemical engineering graduates work across industries that manufacture products or transform materials on a large scale. Typical employers include companies in sectors such as:
- chemicals and petrochemicals
- energy, including oil and gas, nuclear, hydrogen and renewables
- food and drink
- pharmaceuticals and biotechnology
- plastics, polymers and advanced materials
- water, waste management and recycling.
Opportunities are also available with engineering consultancies and contractors, equipment manufacturers, research organisations, regulators and organisations specialising in process safety, environmental protection and sustainable production.
The technical, analytical and commercial skills developed during your degree are also valued in areas such as business, finance, management and IT.
Find information on employers in engineering and manufacturing, energy and utilities, science and pharmaceuticals and other job sectors.
Skills for your CV
A chemical engineering degree develops your understanding of how raw materials are transformed into useful products safely, efficiently and sustainably. You gain technical skills in areas such as:
- data analysis
- laboratory and experimental work
- mathematical and computational modelling
- process design
- using specialist engineering software.
You also learn to consider the safety, environmental, economic, ethical and social implications of engineering decisions.
Transferable skills valued in engineering, business and other careers include:
- analytical and problem-solving skills
- commercial awareness
- communication and presentation skills
- creativity and innovation
- digital skills
- project and time management
- teamwork and leadership.
Further study
You can continue to postgraduate study through a taught Masters, PhD or industry-based Engineering Doctorate (EngD). A specialist Masters can deepen your knowledge in areas such as advanced process engineering, biotechnology, sustainable energy or process systems, and may support a move into a specialist role or a different career area.
Some courses are available part time or through distance learning, allowing you to combine study with employment. A PhD or EngD develops advanced research expertise and is usually required for an academic research career.
You can also work towards Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng) status. Depending on your degree and whether it is accredited, you may need further learning to meet the educational requirements for professional registration.
For more information on further study and to find a course that interests you, see Masters degrees and search postgraduate courses in chemical engineering.
What do chemical engineering graduates do?
Production and process engineers (33%) are the most popular occupations for chemical engineering graduates. Also among the top five most popular jobs:
- engineering professionals (11%)
- health and safety managers and officers (4%)
- engineering project managers and project engineers (4%)
- civil engineers (3%).
| Destination | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Employed | 72.3 |
| Further study | 6.7 |
| Working and studying | 7.3 |
| Unemployed | 8.8 |
| Other | 4.9 |
| Type of work | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Engineering | 57.1 |
| Business, HR and finance | 11.1 |
| Retail, catering and customer service | 4.8 |
| IT | 4.5 |
| Managers | 2.6 |
Find out what other chemical engineering graduates are doing 15 months after finishing their degrees in What do graduates do?
Graduate Outcomes survey data from HESA.