Chemical Engineering Career Guide: Roles, Salary 2025 & Future Scope

Vidhi JainContent Writer
Chemical Engineering jobs in India offer promising opportunities, with growing demand in the Petrochemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Oil and Gas, Power and Energy, Fertilizer, and Food Processing sectors. The scope of Chemical Engg jobs for freshers is expanding every day with new drugs and medicines being made and improved upon, making artificial food sweeteners and demand for dairy substitutes, and the need for energy sources that run without power.
Popular colleges that offer the highest salary packages for Chemical Engineering jobs in placement drives include the top IITs, IISER Bhopal, BITS Pilani, NIT Trichy, NIT Surathkal, Shiva Nadar University (Greater Noida), and Thapar University.
Suggested Link for Chemical Engg Jobs:
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Chemical Engineering Jobs: Top Profiles
Chemical Engineering jobs have a good earning potential, stable career growth, and a plethora of earning opportunities, making it a go-to choice for those passionate about the design and development of chemical processes and equipment to make valuable products for the betterment of society.
As someone with a B Tech Chemical Engineering or MTech Chemical Engg. degree from a reputed college or university, one may pursue a career in diverse sectors presenting great salary benefits, which can differ as per individual skills and experience. There are a lot of diploma Chemical Engineering jobs as well available in India.
This section talks about the popular Chemical Engineering jobs for freshers, both in government and private sectors, that they can look forward to in India:
Chemical Engineering Government Jobs
Students have various Chemical Engineering vacancies in the government sector in the PSUs, central government chemical departments, and research and development. This section throws light on some of the popular Chemical Engg jobs that students can opt for in India along with the average salary packages offered by the top recruiters.
|
Govt. Chem Eng Jobs |
Chemical Engineering Jobs Description |
Average Chemical Engineering Jobs Salary |
|---|---|---|
|
Chemical Process Engineer |
Looks after the planning, designing, optimization, and supervision of various chemical production processes to ensure the utmost quality and safety. |
INR 5.8 LPA |
|
Safety Officer |
Regularly inspects laboratory equipment and machinery to dismiss any possibility of chemical hazards and ensure safe handling and storage of chemical products. |
INR 4.3 LPA |
|
Water Treatment Engineer |
Looks after the overall management of water treatment systems, ensuring safe and clean drinking water for society, effective disposal of wastewater, and preventing any flood-related damage. |
INR 4.2 LPA |
|
Food Processing Engineer |
Looks after the equipment design and optimization of food production processes to ensure the food is safe and meets the best quality standards. |
INR 4.5 LPA |
|
Environmental Engineer |
Plans and works on sustainable and eco-friendly solutions to tackle environmental concerns related to air, land, and water quality. |
INR 4.6 LPA |
|
Nuclear Engineer |
Analyzes, designs, and develops strategies and processes for the safe and effective utilization of nuclear power and energy. |
INR 10 LPA |
|
Research Scientist |
Conducts in-depth research and experiments to come up with new chemical products and improves the existing ones. |
INR 9.2 LPA |
Note- The above salary has been taken from Ambitionbox.com, and hence may vary.
Useful Link for Chemical Engineering Jobs and Career:
Environmental Engineering Career
Chemical Engineering Jobs in the Private Sector
There is a plethora of Chemical Engineering positions available in the private sector for students, particularly in industries like oil, gas and energy, manufacturing, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, food processing, fertilizers, etc. The private sector offers competitive salaries, career growth, and various Chemical Engineering jobs for freshers.
Students can check the table below to see the popular private Chemical Engg jobs that they can opt for in India:
|
Chemical Eng Jobs |
Chemical Engg Job Description |
Average Chemical Engg Jobs Salary |
|---|---|---|
|
Chemical Engineer |
Looks after the research, design, and development of chemical processes, which in turn lead to useful products out of raw materials. |
INR 5 LPA |
|
Quality Control Engineer |
Oversees the quality of products during the entire manufacturing process, troubleshoots any potential issues, and ensures all the chemical products meet quality standards. |
INR 5.5 LPA |
|
Petrochemical Engineer |
Designs and develops chemical processes to effectively extract petrochemicals from crude oil and natural gas. |
INR 5 LPA |
|
Biotechnologist |
Conducts research, develops and optimizes bioprocesses, analyzes data, and ensures biochemical quality control in biotechnology labs. |
INR 4 LPA |
|
Environmental Engineer |
Plans and works on sustainable and eco-friendly solutions to tackle environmental concerns related to air, land, and water quality. |
INR 4.5 LPA |
|
Food Scientist |
Monitors the entire food production, ensures safety and enough nutrition, along with working on processes to improve food quality. |
INR 7.5 LPA |
Note- The information about average annual salaries is taken from Ambitionbox.com and may vary.
Relevant Links related to Chemical Engineering Jobs in India:
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Chemical Engineering Jobs: Top Recruiters
Chemical Engineering graduates are expected to possess a unique skill and research knowledge, which makes them highly valuable for various Chemical Engineering vacancies in India. Top recruiters understand the importance of having such competent graduates as a part of their workforce and hence, end up extending excellent salary packages to them.
Some of the top recruiters that offer Chemical Engg jobs in India are listed below:
|
Top Recruiters for Chemical Engineering Jobs |
|
|---|---|
|
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited |
Tata Chemicals Limited |
|
Essar Group |
Shell India |
|
Hindalco Industries |
Schlumberger Limited |
|
Nirma |
Reliance Industries |
|
Pidilite |
Ambuja Cements |
Note: The information is sourced from external sites and may vary.
Helpful Link for Chemical Engg Jobs:
Chemical Engineering Jobs: Core Sectors
There are many key sectors which provide a diverse range of Chemical Engineering job opportunities, ensuring graduates have multiple career paths to explore. Here’s a table below providing the core employment industries where graduates can find Chemical Engg jobs in India:
|
Industry |
Top Companies for Chemical Engineers |
|---|---|
|
PSUs |
IOCL, BPCL, NPCIL, HPCL, ONGC |
|
Pharmaceutical Companies |
Cipla, Sun Pharma, Bayer, Glenmark, Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson |
|
Plastic Industry |
Exxonmobil, Lyondellbasell, Hanwool Corporation, Dow Chemicals, Supreme Industries, Astral Pipes, Nilkamal Ltd |
|
Oil and Gas Companies |
Exxonmobil, Reliance Ltd., Schlumberger, Shell, British Petroleum |
|
Chemical Manufacturers |
Atul Ltd., UPL Limited, Sudarshan, Aditya Birla, Nirma, Pidilite, Alkyl amines |
|
Cement Industries |
Ultra Tech, Dalmia, ACC, RAMCO, Ambuja |
Note- The above information has been taken from external sources, and hence may vary.
Chemical Engineering Jobs: Best Colleges for Placements in India
Let us have a look at some of the best colleges in India and the average salary packages offered by recruiters during their respective placement drives:
|
Chemical Engineering Colleges |
Average Package Offered (in INR) |
|---|---|
|
INR 9.85 LPA - 17 LPA |
|
|
INR 14 LPA - 20 LPA |
|
|
INR 17.92 LPA |
|
|
INR 6.5 LPA - 17 LPA |
|
|
INR 12 LPA |
|
|
INR 6.5 LPA - 11.4 LPA |
|
|
INR 9.5 LPA - 15.76 LPA |
|
|
INR 6 LPA - 6.1 LPA |
|
|
BITS Pilani - Birla Institute of Technology and Science Placements |
INR 14.8 LPA |
Note: This information is sourced from the official website and hence may vary.
Useful Links for Chemical Engineering College Placements:
NIT Placements – Know Highest Salary Package & Placement Process
IIT Placements – Know Highest Salary Package & Placement Process
Chemical Engineering Jobs FAQs
Q. What are the career opportunities for Chemical Engineering graduates in India?
A. Chemical Engineering graduates can land excellent jobs in both government and private sectors like PSUs, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, renewable energy, fertilizers, food processing, etc. Recruiters offer decent salary packages to skilled graduates. Some of the common Chemical Engineering jobs for freshers in India are given below:
- Chemical Process Engineer
- Quality Control Engineer
- Petrochemical Engineer
- Safety Officer
- Biotechnologist
- Environmental Engineer
- Food Scientist
- Water Treatment Engineer
Q. What is the level-wise salary for Chemical Engineering jobs in India?
A. Entry-level professionals earn around INR 4-6 LPA, while mid-level positions like Project Manager or Quality Control Executive earn INR 7-10 LPA. Senior professionals holding leadership positions or with extensive experience can easily earn approximately INR 10-20 LPA, especially in the private sector.
Q. What are the core industrial sectors for Chemical Engineering jobs after graduation?
A. Some of the top industries where Chemical Engineering graduates are recruited under various job profiles with a decent amount of salaries, are as follows:
- Petrochemicals
- Pharmaceuticals
- Food Processing
- Textiles
- Consumer Goods
Q. What are the top recruiting companies providing Chemical Engineering jobs for freshers in India?
A. Chemical Engineering graduates are in high demand in work fields, as playing with chemicals is not an easy job and can do wonders if done the right way in every work sector. You can go through some of the top companies that provide Chemical Engg jobs in India given below:
- Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Cipla
- Glenmark
- Tata Chemicals Limited
- Essar Group
- Shell India
- Hindalco Industries
- Nirma
- Pidilite
- Reliance Industries
Q. Does a Chemical Engineer get decent salary in India? Is there any job stability?
A. The average salary for Chemical Engineering jobs after graduation is somewhere around INR 4 LPA to INR 6 LPA. As you gain some years of experience in the field, you will get a hike on your salary package because of the skills and expertise gained during the initial years of employment.
The Chemical Engg salary depends a lot on the current market demand and your skill set that matters the most, as you are literally playing with chemicals every day to come up with new and safe products for the benefit of society at large. Rest assured, looking at the current industry trends and consumer demand, there are endless Chemical Engineering vacancies for you in the job market.
Q. What are the essential skills for a successful career in Chemical Engineering?
A. Chemical Engineering jobs in India require a variety of skills for one to do well at the workplace. Most importantly, not all of those skills can be learned in a classroom set up; instead, they are gradually acquired with experience and hard work.
Some basic skills that will help you do the Chemical Eng job very well are:
- Analytical Aptitude
- Safety Protocol Awareness
- Knowledge of Process Simulation
- Technical Proficiency
- Project Management and Problem-solving Attitude
- Strong Mathematical Understanding
- Excellent Computer knowledge
- Passion for Chemicals
Q. Do popular colleges provide good Chemical Engineering jobs in the final year of graduation?
A. Well, yes. Popular Chemical Engineering colleges in India offer decent job opportunities in the final year of your study, where top recruiters visit the college campuses either in the placement drives or placement fairs, where they look out for a pool of talented students who can drive business growth and lead to excellent results.
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Student Forum
Answered a month ago
Chandigarh University excels in both Chemical and Computer Engineering programs. Chemical Engineering provides solid foundations in process design, environmental engineering, and industrial applications. The programme includes practical labs and electives in petroleum and environmental engineering.
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Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
The Chemical Engineering department at Chandigarh University has a strong placement record. Students benefit from specialised labs like Mass Transfer, Heat Transfer, and Process Dynamics, which prepare them for real-world industry challenges. Companies such as Reliance Industries, Hindustan Unilever
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Beginner-Level 3
Answered a month ago
In terms of chemical engineering, Chandigarh University is an awesome place to study. The department owns some major, elegant laboratories for doing experiments to comprehend things happening in real time.
Faculty members encourage students to write research papers and join mini-projects, encouragin
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Beginner-Level 5
Answered a month ago
If you have a lot of interest in the Chemical Engineering and want to get specialised research knowledge you can take up an MTech degree in Chemical Engineering or related fields like Biochemical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Environmental Engineering etc. or an MS degree abroad.
You can also s
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Chemical Engineering graduates can attract healthy salary packages from recruiters across sectors like pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, food processing, oil and gas, nanotechnology and renewable energy. You can check a few top recruiters for Chemical Engineering graduates given here:
- Bharat Petroleum
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
The BTech Chemical Engineering syllabus is different for every college on the basis of their syllabus guidelines and unique coursework approach. The syllabus usually has core subject modules, specialised program electives, lab classes, project work and internships.
When it comes to the mandatory core
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Yes. Chemical Engineering colleges ask you to pay a college application fee at the time of admission that needs to be submitted along with the duly filled application form to confirm the form submission status. The average Chemical Engineering application fee is between INR 500 and INR 3,000, which
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
No doubt, the oil and gas industries are among the top recruiting sectors for Chemical Engineering graduates but that is not all. Chemical engineers work across a plethora of fields like pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, food processing, nanotechnology and renewable energy. The only aim is to come up
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Yes. A strong hold over the Math subject is very important in Chemical Engineering for process design and modeling, chemical process optimization and data analysis. Mathematical concepts like calculus, linear algebra, statistics, and other numerical methods are all used to understand and solve compl
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Chemistry is all about the scientific knowledge of matter at a molecular level, making sense of their reactions for the creation of new products, while Chemical Engineering focuses on applying that very knowledge for the design and optimization of industrial chemical processes and products like chem
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
The VITMEE syllabus of chemical engineering is as follows -
- Law of thermodynamics
- Law of conservation of mass and energy
- Classification of fluids
- Introduction to particulate solids
- Fourier's law of heat conduction
- Differential and integral method of analysis of rate data
- Basic principles of unit operatio
B
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 months ago
Here you can find some top Chemical Engineering books you can refer to complete your course syllabus:
- Chemical Reaction Engineering by Octave Levenspiel
- Chemical Process Safety: Fundamentals with Applications by Joseph F. Louvar and Daniel A. Crowl
- Biochemical Engineering Fundamentals by J. E. Bailey a
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
There are around 540 full-time colleges in India where you can study Chemical Engineering at the UG, PG, diploma, and PhD levels in India. The colleges are popular for their learning environment, faculty, infra, labs, and placements. Some of the top student choices for Chemical Engineering colleges
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
New Chemical Engineering subjects are regularly added to the curriculum to keep pace with the evolving industry which is full of new technologies like nanotechnology and green chemistry, to look after environmental concerns and promote healthy living.
In industries ranging from pharmaceuticals and en
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
While it is not mandatory to have extra certifications to get a decent paying job after a Chemical Engineering degree, additional certificates for skill-based learning definitely give you an edge over other potential candidates, as you become an asset for the recruiter. Today, when the focus is shif
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
The level wise Chemical Engineering salary in India differs on the basis of experience, job role, recruiter, company location and skill set.
As a college fresher you can easily earn around INR 4 LPA to INR 6 LPA while mid-level Chemical Engineering job profiles like Project Manager or Quality Control
V
Contributor-Level 10
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