How to Become a Chemical Engineer in Kentucky: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median chemical engineer salary in Kentucky is $117,170 per year - 6% below the national median of $125,040 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: ABET-accredited bachelor’s in chemical engineering.
Chemical Engineer Salary in Kentucky
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| Kentucky entry level (10th percentile) | $89,040 |
| Kentucky 25th-75th percentile | $106,000 - $136,450 |
| Kentucky median | $117,170 |
| Kentucky top earners (90th percentile) | $161,500 |
| U.S. median | $125,040 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 190.
The Kentucky Job Market: Chemical Engineer
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in Kentucky | 190 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 0.10 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 0.70 |
| Mean annual wage in Kentucky | $122,160 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 0.70, Kentucky employs chemical engineers at a lower concentration than the national average; expect fewer openings per capita and weigh relocation or remote-friendly specialties.
Requirements in Kentucky
The education path is national - ABET-accredited bachelor’s in chemical engineering - while licensing runs through Kentucky’s own boards: PE license for consulting and some senior roles. Verify current requirements with the Kentucky licensing authority before enrolling, as details change. The step-by-step path (degree, exams, first role, advancement) is covered in the national guide: How to Become a Chemical Engineer.
Salary Nationwide
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $79,420 |
| 25th | $97,820 |
| 50th (median) | $125,040 |
| 75th | $157,190 |
| 90th | $182,880 |
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 21,600 |
| 2034 projected | 22,100 |
| Percent change | +2.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a chemical engineer make in Kentucky?
The median annual wage for chemical engineers in Kentucky is $117,170 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 6% below the national median of $125,040.
How do I become a chemical engineer in Kentucky?
The core path is the same nationwide - ABET-accredited bachelor's in chemical engineering - with licensing administered at the state level: PE license for consulting and some senior roles. See the steps below.
How many chemical engineers work in Kentucky?
BLS counts about 190 chemical engineers employed in Kentucky (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Chemical Engineer in Nearby States
- Chemical Engineer in Iowa
- Chemical Engineer in Kansas
- Chemical Engineer in Louisiana
- Chemical Engineer in Maryland
Related
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Chemical Engineers (SOC 17-2041), Kentucky and national
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |