Chemical Engineers pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $93,250 a year or less, while the top 10% make $185,840 or more. The middle half of chemical engineers in Washington earn between $97,820 and $162,260.
- $93K10th
- $98K25th
- $133KMedian
- $162K75th
- $186K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $135,740 | $11,312 | $65.26 |
| Median | $132,820 | $11,068 | $63.86 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $97,820 | $8,152 | $47.03 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $162,260 | $13,522 | $78.01 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemical Engineers pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Chemical engineers in Washington earn 4% more than the U.S. average ($129,980). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $125,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $135,740 | $132,820 | $93,250 | $185,840 | 640 |
| United States | $129,980 | $125,040 | $79,420 | $182,880 | 21,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chemical Engineers salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $135,740, a single filer in Washington takes home about $95,475 a year, or $7,956 a month and $3,672 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $98,716 | $8,226 |
| Working in MD | $97,709 | $8,142 |
| Working in VA | $97,053 | $8,088 |
| Working in DC | $95,475 | $7,956 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for chemical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $135,740 buys what about $124,665 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 4.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemical Engineers salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$127,240
- Richmond, VA$119,540
- Reading, PA$107,820
- Philadelphia, PA$128,970
- Pittsburgh, PA$139,050
- Trenton, NJ$144,720
Highest-paying cities for chemical engineers
Houston, TX pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($155,750).
- Houston, TX$155,750
- Austin, TX$149,140
- Dallas, TX$147,410
- Lake Charles, LA$144,900
- Trenton, NJ$144,720
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Chemical Engineers salary in Washington: questions
How much do chemical engineers make an hour in Washington?
$65.26 an hour on average, and $63.86 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemical engineers salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $93,250 a year and the 25th percentile is $97,820, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemical engineers take-home pay in Washington?
About $95,475 a year ($7,956 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $135,740.
Do chemical engineers earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% more than the U.S. average for this job ($129,980).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2041; area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.51, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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