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Chemical Engineer V Salary in the United States

How much does a Chemical Engineer V make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Chemical Engineer V in the United States is $164,836 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $79.

However, a Chemical Engineer V's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $187,261
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $161,076 to $176,574
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $157,653

Key Factors That Influence Chemical Engineer V Salaries

A Chemical Engineer V's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Chemical Engineer V Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Chemical Engineer V's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Chemical Engineer III (4-7 years): $114,421
  • Chemical Engineer IV (7+ years): $138,331
  • Chemical Engineer V (7-10 years): $164,836
  • Chemical Engineer VI (10-12 years): $190,106
  • Chemical Engineering Manager (12+ years): $148,092
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Chemical Engineer III4-7 years$114,421
Chemical Engineer IV7+ years$138,331
Chemical Engineer V7-10 years$164,836
Chemical Engineer VI10-12 years$190,106
Chemical Engineering Manager12+ years$148,092

Top Paying Cities for Chemical Engineer V

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $207,908
  • San Francisco: $205,631
  • Oakland: $201,298

What Skills Can Increase a Chemical Engineer V's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Consulting (Mentioned in 8.37% Job Postings): Providing technical or business expertise and advice to internal or external clients.
  • Support Services (Mentioned in 2.79% Job Postings): Support Services means those activities provided to or on behalf of a person in the areas of personal care and assistance and property maintenance in order to allow a person to live in the least restrictive environment.
  • Environmental Technology (Mentioned in 1.99% Job Postings): environmental technologies aim to protect the environment. They offer ways of consuming which are less polluting or do so in a sustainable manner, and often provide new ways to avoid depletion of natural resources altogether.
Skills Demand Percentage
Consulting 8.37%
Support Services 2.79%
Environmental Technology 1.99%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Chemical Engineer V's salary.

  • Communicates Effectively: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Chemistry: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Employee Health and Safety: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Communicates Effectively $187,913
14%
Chemistry $184,616
12%
Employee Health and Safety $182,968
11%

Chemical Engineer V Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Chemical Engineer V salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $184,632. While startup companies pay approximate $156,329.

Chemical Engineer V Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $156,329
Growth Stage 51~500 $165,290
Established 501~5000 $178,334
Enterprise 5000+ $184,632

Chemical Engineer V Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Chemical Engineer V roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Chemical Engineer positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Chemical Engineer V as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Chemical Engineer V

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$206,045$99.025%
Biotechnology$197,803$95.020%
Pharmaceuticals$194,506$94.018%
Energy & Utilities$189,561$91.015%
Aerospace & Defense$181,320$87.010%

How Education impacts an Chemical Engineer V's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Chemical Engineer V enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Chemical Engineer V with a Bachelor's Degree is between $0 and $0.

Chemical Engineer V Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Chemical Engineer V
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 0.8%
Associates 0.4%
Bachelors 33.9%
Masters 35.5%
Doctorate 29.1%

Chemical Engineer V Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Chemical Engineer V's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$161,076
Average $164,836/year
$176,574
$13,423
Average $13,736/month
$14,715
$3,098
Average $3,170/week
$3,396
$77
Average $79/hour
$85
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $176,574 $14,715 $3,396 $85
Average $164,836 $13,736 $3,170 $79
25th Percentile $161,076 $13,423 $3,098 $77

Chemical Engineer V Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Chemical Engineer V, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Chemical Engineer VI role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $190,106 - a projected growth of 15% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Chemical Engineer V

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Chemical Engineer V

Here are companies hiring for Chemical Engineer V and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Chemical Engineer V

1. Where can a Chemical Engineer V earn the most?

A Chemical Engineer V's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Chemical Engineer V earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Chemical Engineer V is $207,908.

2. What is the highest pay for Chemical Engineer V?

The highest pay for Chemical Engineer V is $187,261.

3. What is the lowest pay for Chemical Engineer V?

The lowest pay for Chemical Engineer V is $157,653.

4. What are the responsibilities of Chemical Engineer V?

Conducts research and development projects involving the study of chemical reactions and material properties to innovate and develop new products or optimize existing products. Designs experiments and builds prototypes and models used to investigate and support the development of improved chemicals, materials, products, and manufacturing processes. Compiles and analyzes testing data. Presents research results used to estimate costs, establish performance standards, identify solutions, and facilitate processes. Maintains lab and plant safety procedures for chemical storage, handling, transport, and disposal. Complies with all safety and environmental regulations. May require a master's degree in chemical engineering. Typically reports to a manager. Works autonomously. Goals are generally communicated in "solution" or project goal terms. May provide a leadership role for the work group through knowledge in the area of specialization. Works on advanced, complex technical projects or business issues requiring state of the art technical or industry knowledge. Typically requires 10+ years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Chemical Engineer V?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Chemical Engineer V roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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