2134-NOC

Chemical engineers

(NOC 2134)
Annual Earnings
$84,488
Typical Education Background
Degree
Job Openings
(2022-2032)
450

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

$84,488

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$58.17/hr
Median$40.51/hr
Low$37.98/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2022 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

1,000

% Employed Full Time

62%
Source: 2016 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

Engineer, biochemical
Engineer, biotechnical
Engineer, chemical - environmental
Engineer, chemical - process control
Engineer, electrochemical
Engineer, environmental chemical
Engineer, explosives
Engineer, fuels
Engineer, industrial waste treatment
Engineer, liquid fuels
Engineer, pipeline transport
Engineer, plastics / polymers

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.

76%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

74%
Complex Problem Solving

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

74%
Science

Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

70%
Judgment and Decision-Making

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

70%
Numeracy

Using mathematics to solve problems.

68%
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%
Active Learning

Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.

66%
Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

65%

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

1,000
Source: 2016 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of Cariboo region Map of Kootenay region Map of Mainland/Southwest region Map of North Coast and Nechako region Map of Northeast region Map of Thompson-Okanagan region Map of Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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Region Employment (2022) % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 80 4.7%
Kootenay 60 4.7%
Mainland/Southwest 940 75.5%
North Coast and Nechako 40 2.1%
Northeast 40 2.6%
Thompson-Okanagan 80 4.7%
Vancouver Island/Coast 70 5.7%
Source: 2016 Census and B.C. Labour Market Outlook

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 (2022-2032)

450
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 (2022-2032)

Map of BC Map of Cariboo region Map of Kootenay region Map of Mainland/Southwest region Map of North Coast and Nechako region Map of Northeast region Map of Thompson-Okanagan region Map of Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 0 0.0%
Kootenay 0 1.6%
Mainland/Southwest 360 1.4%
North Coast and Nechako 0 2.3%
Northeast 0 0.0%
Thompson-Okanagan 0 1.2%
Vancouver Island/Coast 0 1.3%
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 (2022-2032)
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services148,000
Manufacturing49,200
Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction12,000
Public Administration49,200
Wholesale Trade33,100
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: 2016 Census and B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Resources