2134-NOC

Chemical engineers

(NOC 21320)
Annual Earnings
$99,650
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
University Degree
Job Openings
(2023-2033)
330

Career Overview

Chemical engineers:

  • Research, design, and develop chemical processes and equipment
  • Oversee the operation and maintenance of industrial chemical, plastics, pharmaceutical, resource, pulp, and food processing plants
  • Perform duties related to chemical quality control, environmental protection and biochemical or biotechnical engineering
  • Work for a wide range of manufacturing and processing industries, consulting firms, government, research and educational institutions

 

Duties

Chemical engineers:

  • Carry out economic and technical feasibility studies in areas related to chemical, petroleum, pulp and paper, food or other processing industries
  • Carry out research into the development or improvement of chemical engineering processes, reactions and materials
  • Evaluate chemical process technology and equipment, and determine production specifications
  • Design and test chemical processing, and associated plants and equipment
  • Oversee the construction, modification, operation and maintenance of pilot plants, processing units or processing plants
  • Create and carry out quality control programs, operating procedures and control strategies to ensure consistency and adherence to standards for raw materials, products and waste products or emissions
  • Prepare contract documents and evaluate tenders for the process aspects of industrial construction
  • Supervise technicians, technologists and other engineers
  • Work in an administrative capacity, for example, in the development of rules and specifications for the handling of dangerous chemicals, environmental protection, or standards for foods, materials and consumer goods

Special duties

Chemical engineers may specialize in the products and processes of industries such as pulp and paper manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, energy processing, plastics, metal extraction and refining, or adhesives and coatings production.

They may also specialize in areas that are in various industries such as process control, pollution control or fermentation processes.

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$99,650

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$75.50/hr
Median$47.78/hr
Low$23.13/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2023 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

1,010

% Employed Full Time

78%
Source: 2021 Census

Work in this occupation is typically performed in an indoor environment, where one may be exposed to chemicals or substances that may endanger health, while being in the presence of noxious, intense or prolonged odours.

Career Pathways

There is considerable mobility between chemical engineering specializations at the less senior levels.

Chemical engineers work closely with chemists and other scientists and engineers and mobility is possible between some fields of specialization.

These workers also often work in a multidisciplinary environment and acquire knowledge and skills through work experience that may allow them to practise in associated areas of science, engineering, sales, marketing or management.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Investigative
Investigative
Realistic
Realistic

Job Titles

Adhesives engineer
Biochemical engineer
Biotechnical engineer
Chemical process control engineer
Chemical process engineer
Chemical project engineer
Environmental chemical engineer
Industrial hygiene engineer
Industrial waste treatment engineer
Liquid fuels engineer
Petrochemical engineer
Polymer engineer
Pulp and paper engineer
Refinery engineer
Waste treatment engineer

Education, Training and Skills

  • Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering or in a related engineering discipline is required
  • Master's degree or doctorate in a related engineering discipline may be required
  • Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required to approve engineering drawings and reports and to practise as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.)
  • Engineers are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program, and after three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination

 

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Electrical, Electronic & Communications Engineering
  • Engineering Science
  • Chemical Engineering
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Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

78%
Complex Problem Solving

Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.

78%
Science

Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

76%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

75%
Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

75%
Mathematics

Using mathematics to solve problems.

70%
Systems Analysis

Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations and the environment will affect outcomes.

70%
Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

68%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

68%
Systems Evaluation

Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, while meeting the goals of the system.

68%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

1,010
Source: 2021 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Employment % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 25 2.5%
Kootenay 40 3.9%
Mainland/Southwest 810 79.8%
North Coast and Nechako 0 0.0%
Northeast 0 0.0%
Thompson-Okanagan 75 7.4%
Vancouver Island/Coast 45 4.4%
Source: 2021 Census

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2023-2033)

330
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2023-2033)

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 10 0.7%
Kootenay 20 -0.3%
Mainland/Southwest 240 1.2%
North Coast and Nechako Not available Not available
Northeast Not available Not available
Thompson-Okanagan 40 0.8%
Vancouver Island/Coast 20 0.0%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2023-2033)
Professional, Scientific And Technical Services190
Manufacturing90
Public Administration10
Mining And Oil And Gas Extraction10
Wholesale Trade10
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Resources