Jobs / Architecture and engineering / 17-2041.00
Chemical Engineers
Design chemical plant equipment and devise processes for manufacturing chemicals and products, such as gasoline, synthetic rubber, plastics, detergents, cement, paper, and pulp, by applying principles and technology of chemistry, physics, and engineering.
- US jobs
- 21,070
- Median wage
- $125,040 a year
- Job family
- Architecture and engineering
Can agents do the work of chemical engineers?
We read the evidence for the whole job family, Architecture and engineering: Some tasks (first measured in the last 12 months)
Agents complete 20% or more of the tasks (or projects) on a direct benchmark.
Evidence: HWE-Bench, 79.9% of tasks completed.
Direct evidence that disagrees: Parametric CAD Bench V3, 9% of tasks fully completed (Perfect tasks).
0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.
- 18%Research technology designs or applicationsNot measured
- 13%Design industrial systems or equipmentNot measured
- 9%Develop safety standards, policies, or proceduresNot measured
- 9%Diagnose system or equipment problemsNot measured
- 9%Evaluate the characteristics, usefulness, or performance of products or technologiesNot measured
- 7%Determine operational methods or proceduresNot measured
- 6%Develop operational or technical procedures or standardsNot measured
- 6%Inspect commercial, industrial, or production systems or equipmentNot measured
Benchmarks for the job family
These cover work in architecture and engineering, not always this occupation's tasks.
Direct evidence
Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.
- 61%Claude Opus 5.5 (max) with Claude Code 2.1.280 · 24 Sep 2026Strong
Also relevant
These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.
- 64.8%Claude Code + Opus 5.5 (max) · 6 Oct 2026Strong
Context only
These benchmarks span many occupations, or they test how agents behave. They give context but do not set the step.
Typical tasks
From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.
- Develop safety procedures to be employed by workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions.
- Troubleshoot problems with chemical manufacturing processes.
- Monitor and analyze data from processes and experiments.
- Evaluate chemical equipment and processes to identify ways to optimize performance or to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
- Design and plan layout of equipment.
- Prepare estimate of production costs and production progress reports for management.
- Perform tests and monitor performance of processes throughout stages of production to determine degree of control over variables such as temperature, density, specific gravity, and pressure.
- Conduct research to develop new and improved chemical manufacturing processes.
- Determine most effective arrangement of operations such as mixing, crushing, heat transfer, distillation, and drying.
- Develop processes to separate components of liquids or gases or generate electrical currents, using controlled chemical processes.
- Design measurement and control systems for chemical plants based on data collected in laboratory experiments and in pilot plant operations.
- Perform laboratory studies of steps in manufacture of new products and test proposed processes in small-scale operation, such as a pilot plant.
Other job titles for this occupation (33)
Chemical Engineer · Development Engineer · Engineer · Engineering Scientist · Process Control Engineer · Process Engineer · Project Engineer · Refinery Process Engineer · Research Chemical Engineer · Scientist · Absorption and Adsorption Engineer · Blending Coordinator · Chemical Design Process Engineer · Chemical Process Engineer · Chemical Research Engineer · Chemical Test Engineer · Control Systems Engineer · Controls Engineer · Explosives Engineer · Fuel Engineer · Gas Combustion Engineer · Lubricating Engineer · Oxidation Engineer · Pharmaceutical Process Engineer · Plant Engineer · Plastics Engineer · Polymerization Engineer · Process Application Engineer · Process Design Chemical Engineer · Process Development Engineer · Process Improvement Engineer · Weapons Designer · Weapons Engineer