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My hub hires lots of ChemE's, and in his industry (oil refining, management level) they are paid very well ($150-200K, sometimes higher, plus another 50% or more in bonuses on good years). These people have to be willing to transfer to various refineries throughout their career, and work their way up, but even the entry level ChemE's start at over $100K base.
It would be a very bad gamble to major in Chemical Engineering in a random school with the expectation of working in big oil and getting a 100K+ starting salary.
If you really want to do that stuff, you go to schools in Texas or Colorado and major in Petroleum Engineering, get a masters and do that.
It would be a very bad gamble to major in Chemical Engineering in a random school with the expectation of working in big oil and getting a 100K+ starting salary.
If you really want to do that stuff, you go to schools in Texas or Colorado and major in Petroleum Engineering, get a masters and do that.
I'd still rather have a BSc in ChemE with a 2.0 GPA in an unranked (but accredited) school than a 4.0 in chemistry from a top 50 school.
In any tech job, compensation is all over the map depending on ability. If you're strong enough to create intellectual property, you do well. If you're doing repetitive task work, you don't do well.
No offense, and I've had a few conversations with you before, but you have a really f@ed up way of looking at life.
Nobody gives a sh@t about how much $ (or lack of $) you make except yourself.
The OP asked for advice and my advice is the job outlook for chemistry is terrible, the BLS also says the outlook for chemistry is much slower than average growth of jobs, the job ads are flooded with staffing agencies offering wages fit for a garbage man, the stats on Payscale show more than half of all Chemists have less than 5 years experience and it thins out more the longer you go. All of that is painting a pretty clear picture that the economy has little value for Chemists and a chemistry degree has very little return on investment for both the cost of tuition, the intellectual rigor, and time/opportunity costs.
As for your opinion Jobaba, that plus $2.00 is worth a ride on the bus.
Both are different in case. I think everyone should do what he likes. So you should let him do what he is wants to do. Thanks!
That ruinous advice was given to a lot of young Americans who got worthless degrees and are now living in their parent's basement dodging calls from collectors on their huge student loans.
One has to balance practicality and enjoyment when choosing a college major and occupation.
The average chemist is working in a factory for between $35-60k a year doing quality control or R&D. It's a decent, boring, middle class career that is absolutely nothing to write home about.
Chem E is where it's at. Only get a BS in Chem if you want to eventually get a PhD or go to med school or if you are fine with the boring, boring life of an industrial QC chemist
Yup.
That said majority of Chem Es wind up doing the same stuff. Energy ebbs and flows like mad. If you come out at the right time in the top 25% of your class from one of the top schools, you're good. Otherwise same outcome. Chem E in energy is just quality control. It just also pays better, way better, than most QC jobs.
Why is this, what is your reasoning for this remark ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by MSchemist80
I'd still rather have a BSc in ChemE with a 2.0 GPA in an unranked (but accredited) school than a 4.0 in chemistry from a top 50 school.
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