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Why Become a Chemical Engineer?
Picture: Debby Hudson
It’s not always easy knowing what you want to do with your life when you’re reaching the end of your secondary schooling education. Some people decide to take a break from the educational system so they can figure it out, while others start browsing the various available degrees online to see what holds their interest the most.
If you’re interested in science, you might decide to start looking at chemical engineering. This degree allows you to become a qualified engineer in a multitude of different fields, like chemical engineering, process engineering, and pharmaceutical engineering. If you’re unsure if chemical engineering is the right option for you, here are a few of the many benefits for undergraduate students.
The Feel-Good Factor of Contributing to Society
Whether you study at American International College or another educational institute, you can make a significant contribution to society with what you do with your chemical engineering skills. Chemical engineers develop products with real-world impacts, such as pharmaceuticals for disease and illness treatment, water sanitation systems, and natural resources. Your input into this field might mean that your local community is safer and better able to access the necessities of life.
Exciting Job Opportunities
It never hurts to research future job prospects when exploring a new degree at an educational institute. Knowing the job outlook can sometimes be the deciding factor in whether you decide to proceed with a specific program.
Students exploring chemical engineering might be pleasantly surprised by the positive job outlook in this field. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), chemical engineer employment is expected to grow 14% from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations, including other engineers.
This growth means there will be at least 2,000 openings annually on average for chemical engineers. Upon graduating with your chemical engineering degree, you might not find it challenging to secure employment.
International Work Opportunities
You might be happy to complete your chemical engineering program in your home country, but that doesn’t mean you want to live and work in that same country forever. Upon graduating, the world becomes your oyster.
The field of chemical engineering presents many employment opportunities, no matter where you want to live. Sometimes, working internationally is as easy as exploring job vacancies in other countries, applying, and arranging your visa. As chemical engineering features on many countries’ skills shortages list, you might be surprised by how straightforward the process can be.
Excellent Income Potential
No matter which university or college you attend, you’ll likely need to pay tuition fees unless you receive a full scholarship. Tertiary education can be expensive, even if it’s worthwhile. However, given the income potential of chemical engineering, you likely won’t let fees put you off exploring this field. The BLS states that the 2021 median pay for the average chemical engineer was $105,550 per year or $50.75 per hour. The highest 10% also earned more than $187,430 per year.
Becoming a chemical engineer is a significant decision to make, especially when multiple programs being offered might catch your eye. However, with international opportunities, excellent income potential, and exciting job prospects, you might be eager to learn more about this program.
