Chemical engineers can be divided into two subgroups. One, are those who conduct tests and research to develop new or improved substances for various products. Two, are those who design, manufacture and operate plants and their machinery for industrial chemical, biological or related process. ( K ) Some chemical engineers do both, but most all will work with other engineers of all types while working on a project. Making safety procedures, helping to avoid environmental issues, and writing up documentations are also important parts of a chemical engineers job.
The responsibilities of chemical engineers are to design, produce, or use chemical solutions for specific chemical processes. They must ensure the safety of others as well as themselves as they work. They also must consider economic trends and environmental safety of the by products.
The tasks of a chemical engineer can vary based on the requirements of the job he is hired to do. He may be a specific part of a much larger task, in which case he may deal with only the production or just the use of chemical solutions for specific chemical processes. However, he may be hired to plan and test production methods for a large facility. This could require the managing of a large-scale manufacturing plant.
In either case they will be expected to maintain engineering documentation and compliance with engineering code and standards. ( K )
The demand and salary of a chemical engineer varies depending on the chosen job. Their demand often follows the popularity of the products being produced. ( K ) The salary of a chemical engineer is in the top 10% of the highest paying jobs in America. ( A ) A chemical engineer’s salary is between $62,320 to $169,080.( A ) Median pay in 2017 was $102,160, about $49.12 per hour. ( K ) To become a chemical engineer you must have at least a Bachelor of Science degree. Higher degrees will bring more options for jobs and a higher pay. The highest paid jobs are currently from the big oil companies like Exxon Mobil Chemical, Chevron Corporation, B.P. Amoco and Shell Oil Company.
Because a chemical engineer works with all kinds of chemicals, there is always the possibility of being exposed to safety hazards when handling them. That is why knowing and using the safety regulations is so important. Some chemical engineers travel extensively to worksites, plants, and abroad, however most work indoors within offices, laboratories or industrial plants. Jobsite geographic locations could be anywhere in the U.S. depending on the specialty - but the oil industry is mostly in the southern states. Chemical engineers may have to work additional hours to keep up with the schedule and 2 out of 5 already work more than 40 hours per week. ( A )
A Bachelor of Science or higher degree is needed from a college accredited by the Board for Engineering and Technology. Some jobs, such as in nanotechnology, will require multiple advanced degrees. Students can direct their track of study towards bioengineering, environmental engineering or chemical engineering depending upon their specific interests or job choice. Engineers usually are required to take a professional engineer’s examination test after graduation to be a licensed engineer in their particular field. In addition, they must take continuing education courses to maintain their professional licensing to keep them up to date with current trends and their ethical responsibilities. ( K ) In this changing world, chemical engineers will be expected to have other important skills such a proficiency with computers and automated chemical equipment.
Chemical engineering is a general career with a lot of options depending upon what elective courses are taken and which educational track is followed in college. If the bioengineering track was followed, jobs might include those in the medical field developing materials and devices or in the pharmacy relm. If the environmental engineering track was followed, work most likely would be found in alternative environmental energy production and research, water treatment or water desalination, pulp and paper, food engineering or even developing new fertilizers. The chemical engineering track could lead to positions in chemical process design, material science, rubber technology, developing new fiber, polymers and plastics, or perhaps micro electronics or 3D design and printing.
I can see myself as a chemical engineer because it is all about helping. Helping to find better products and more efficient ways to do a task by using chemicals; such as treating water to make it more available to people, making “greener” energy cheaper, and making food “better” and accessible to more people. The reason why I would want to become a chemical engineer is because it is a career that I believe I would be happy working in each day. It would give me the feeling of accomplishment or “pride” when completing a task that I know is doing good. Finding a job as a chemical engineer would not be hard because chemical engineering is essential to most everything we do. There is always a need for someone to make equipment run better and more efficiently, or to explore better materials and products, or maybe even design parts for a nanotech machine.
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Chemical Engineer: Types And Work Peculiarities.
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