2025 AIChE Salary Survey Results

The results of the 2025 AIChE Salary Survey are in! This is the 12th edition of the biennial Salary Survey conducted by CEP for the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). The 2025 Salary Survey was open to AIChE members, chemical engineers, and others working in the chemical process industries. The survey garnered a total of 769 responses, and salary data was collected only from respondents who met certain criteria (e.g., full-time employment, with a background in chemical engineering or a related discipline). A brief review of our survey methodology can be found on page 39.

Over the past two years, many industries have been affected by economic uncertainty — in some cases leading to strategic realignments and layoffs — with the chemical, biotech, and pharmaceutical industries being no exception. Despite economic and political uncertainties, this year’s Salary Survey reveals a positive outlook for the chemical engineering community. The survey asked about job satisfaction and lifestyle expectations, indicating that the vast majority of respondents are content in their roles. Overwhelmingly, respondents confirmed that their salaries adequately cover their cost of living, and many indicated that their current compensation meets their broader lifestyle expectations. Only 3% of respondents indicated that they were laid off in the past two years. These findings highlight a degree of resilience within the profession, even amidst an uncertain economic backdrop.

The survey found that the overall median salary of chemical engineers is $160,000, a 6.67% increase from the median salary of $150,000 reported in the 2023 Salary Survey (not accounting for inflation). In comparison, the 2023 Salary Survey reported an 8.30% increase from the median salary reported in 2021, as shown in Figure 1...