Chemical Engineer salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Chemical Engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $132,820 a year ($63.86 an hour), based on BLS data for 640 workers.
Pay ranges from $93,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $185,840 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $125,040. Pay here is 3% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $136,380. There are 0.20 chemical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $135,740, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemical engineers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $93,250 | $44.83 |
| 25th percentile | $97,820 | $47.03 |
| Median | $132,820 | $63.86 |
| 75th percentile | $162,260 | $78.01 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $185,840 | $89.35 |
| Average (mean) | $135,740 | $65.26 |
Half of chemical engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $11,068.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,534.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,108.46 |
| Weekly | $2,554.23 |
| Hourly | $63.86 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $132,820 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chemical Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $128,610 | 180 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $127,770 | 790 |
| Richmond, VA | $117,150 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for chemical engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $158,190 |
| Virginia | $136,380 |
| Alabama | $135,030 |
| Louisiana | $134,800 |
| Delaware | $133,670 |
| Texas | $132,750 |
| West Virginia | $129,210 |
| New York | $129,060 |
| Washington | $128,290 |
| Oklahoma | $127,790 |
See Chemical Engineer pay in every state or the Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Engineers, All Other | $151,340 | $72.76 |
| Civil Engineer | $101,780 | $48.93 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $126,990 | $61.05 |
| Electrical Engineer | $126,420 | $60.78 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $140,000 | $67.31 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $166,420 | $80.01 |
| Industrial Engineer | $117,600 | $56.54 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $159,480 | $76.67 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $180,360 | $86.71 |
| Environmental Engineer | $120,580 | $57.97 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $159,700 | $76.78 |
| Materials Engineer | $140,640 | $67.62 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $110,390 | $53.07 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $125,760 | $60.46 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemical engineer make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for chemical engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $132,820 a year, or $63.86 an hour. Pay ranges from $93,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $185,840 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemical engineers make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of chemical engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $185,840 a year. The top 25% earn $162,260 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemical engineers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $93,250 a year, and a quarter of chemical engineers earn $97,820 or less.
How many chemical engineers work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 640 chemical engineers are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.