How to Become a Chemical Engineer in Montana: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median chemical engineer salary in Montana is $127,490 per year - 2% above 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 Montana
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| Montana entry level (10th percentile) | $88,640 |
| Montana 25th-75th percentile | $99,690 - $158,280 |
| Montana median | $127,490 |
| Montana top earners (90th percentile) | $165,230 |
| U.S. median | $125,040 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 80.
The Montana Job Market: Chemical Engineer
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in Montana | 80 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 0.16 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 1.16 |
| Mean annual wage in Montana | $126,310 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 1.16, Montana employs chemical engineers at a noticeably higher concentration than the national average: a strong local market for the credential.
Requirements in Montana
The education path is national - ABET-accredited bachelor’s in chemical engineering - while licensing runs through Montana’s own boards: PE license for consulting and some senior roles. Verify current requirements with the Montana 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 Montana?
The median annual wage for chemical engineers in Montana is $127,490 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 2% above the national median of $125,040.
How do I become a chemical engineer in Montana?
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 Montana?
BLS counts about 80 chemical engineers employed in Montana (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Chemical Engineer in Nearby States
- Chemical Engineer in Mississippi
- Chemical Engineer in Missouri
- Chemical Engineer in Nebraska
- Chemical Engineer in New Hampshire
Related
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Chemical Engineers (SOC 17-2041), Montana 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) |