Chemical Engineers
Job description
These individuals design and develop chemical transformation equipment and processes. They oversee the operation and maintenance of plants in several industries (chemicals, plastics, pharmaceuticals, food processing, etc.). They are also responsible for quality control and environmental protection. They work for:
- Manufacturing and processing industries
- Consulting firms
- The government
- Research institutes
- Educational institutions
Environment
- Controlled ambient temperature
- Hazardous chemical
- Odours
Main tasks
- Carry out economic and technical feasibility studies.
- Conduct research to develop or improve processes, reactions, and chemical products.
- Evaluate chemical processing equipment and techniques.
- Design and experiment with chemical treatment facilities and equipment.
- Oversee the construction, operation, and maintenance of facilities.
- Ensure compliance with current standards.
- Prepare contract documents and evaluate bids for industrial construction work.
- Supervise Technicians, Technologists, and other Engineers.
- Determine production specifications and guidelines for handling hazardous chemicals.
- Develop standards for food, materials, and consumer products.
Advancement and mobility
- There is a high degree of mobility between chemical engineering specializations and lower-level positions.
- There is some mobility between specialized chemical engineering and chemical engineering positions.
- Experience leads to senior or supervisory positions.
- These individuals may work in related fields (science, engineering, sales, marketing, management, etc.).
- These individuals may specialize in various fields (pulp and paper, pharmaceuticals, plastics, minerals, etc.).
Hourly wage
The hourly wage is calculated by averaging wages from 2022 to 2024.- Minimum
- $26.00
- Median
- $45.67
- Maximum
- $65.38
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects
All of Québec
All of Québec
Total jobs for 2023
All of Québec
All of Québec
Gender distribution
All of Québec
- 34.2% Female
- 65.8% Male
- 34.2% Female
- 65.8% Male
Job types
All of Québec
- Full time
- Part time
- Full time
- Part time
Yearly wage on 2020
All of Québec
All of Québec
Other characteristics
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
Sectors of activity
All of Québec
-
NAICS 5413, 541420% of jobs
-
NAICS 324, 32519% of jobs
-
NAICS 918% of jobs
-
NAICS 5416, 54177% of jobs
-
NAICS 3316% of jobs
-
Others40% of jobs
All of Québec
-
NAICS 5413, 541420% of jobs
-
NAICS 324, 32519% of jobs
-
NAICS 918% of jobs
-
NAICS 5416, 54177% of jobs
-
NAICS 3316% of jobs
-
Others40% of jobs
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
University
Biological or biomedical engineering
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 76.5%
23.5% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 50%
50% of graduates pursue further studies
Chemical engineering
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 82.4%
14.7% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 72%
24% of graduates pursue further studies
Also required
Membership in the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ [Quebec Order of Engineers]) to practise as an Engineer and carry out activities that are reserved for them.
Sometimes required
- A Doctoral or Master’s degree in a related engineering discipline may be required.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Information processing
- Data collection
- Science
- Solving complex problems
- Critical thought
- System analysis
- Reading comprehension
- Judgment and decision-making
- Mathematics
- Active learning
- Systems evaluation
- Operation analysis
- Oral expression
- Active listening
- Result evaluation
- Written expression
- Monitoring operations
- Coordination
- Troubleshooting
- Teaching
- Time management
- Negotiation
- Social perception
- Persuasion
Abilities
- Written comprehension
- Awareness of issues
- Classification
- Oral comprehension
- Deductive reasoning
- Information organization
- Mathematical reasoning
- Inductive reasoning
- Basic numeracy
- Idea generation
- Verbal skills
- Originality
- Near vision
- Processing flexibility
- Perception speed
- Selective attention
- Speech clarity
- Distance vision
- Written expression
- Visualization
- Speech recognition
- Colour perception and distinction
- Information processing speed
Knowledge and attributes
- Critical thinking
- Capacity to influence and mobilize
- Spoken and written bilingualism (French and English)
- Capacity to delegate
- Knowledge of mathematics
- Respect standards and regulations
- Creativity
- Desire to upgrade one’s competencies
- Knowledge of engineering and technology
- Knowledge of chemistry
Interests
- Direct, organize, and manage
- Draft, communicate, and inform
- Work with numbers
- Create, design
- Carry out research
- Make technical plans and drawings
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
- Realistic
- People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
- Enterprising
- People with this profile prefer having responsibilities, influencing others and responding to challenges.
Official name of the NOC 21320
Chemical engineers
Job titles
- Chemical engineer
- Production chemical engineer
- Chemical project engineer
- Chief chemical engineer
- Biochemical engineer
- Biotechnical engineer
- Research chemical engineer
- Pulp and paper chemical engineer
- Chemical coating engineer
- Chemical process control engineer
- Design and development chemical engineer
- Environmental chemical engineer
- Biochemical development engineer
- Electrochemical engineer
- Refinery engineer
- Adhesives engineer
- Fuels engineer
- Liquid fuels engineer
- Explosives engineer
- Plastics engineer
- Polymer engineer
- Chemical process engineer
- Petroleum refinery process engineer
- Chief process engineer
- Pipeline transport engineer
- Biochemical and biotechnical engineer
- Biotechnology engineer
- Industrial hygiene engineer
- Petrochemical engineer
- Waste treatment engineer
- Industrial waste treatment engineer
- Ingénieurs biochimistes/ingénieures biochimistes et ingénieurs biotechniciens/ingénieures biotechniciennes
Skill type
Natural and applied sciences and related occupations
Last update: January 29, 2026