r/ChemicalEngineering • u/DRJSAN • Jan 06 '23

Salary Where is the crazy money

What are the jobs that chemE’s can get that print crazy money.

I know for the most part engineers are well paid, but I’m wondering if there’s any shot to make ridiculous money (like the higher end of SWE or big 4 consulting) using an undergrad in chemE in conjunction with any experience or further degrees.

This may seem like a shallow question, and it definitely is. I’m happy with my degree and jog, I just really want to know what the top of the mountain looks like and how people got there.

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u/[deleted] Jan 06 '23 edited Jan 06 '23

Extremely specialized and skilled work. Or very high up there in corporate.

For corporate, it’s decently obvious; be a C-level officer of a large, profitable company. Of course, this means a good deal of luck and poor work-life balance. Also, a long time climbing up the latter, and probably, a good number of job switches and cross-country and even international moves.

For specialized and skilled work, this is consulting work by people with decades of experience.

My old boss relayed a story that occurred back in the early 2010s. The Pharma plant he worked at had serious contamination issues. So, they hired one of the world’s foremost experts on aseptic systems. Guy made $400/hr. $500/hr today after inflation. This pay included:

  • Time driving from his London home to the airport.
  • Time in the flight from London to Kansas
  • Time driving to the site in the middle-of-nowhere
  • Hotels, meals, taxi, 1st-class airfare, and rental car

Note this guy was one of the best engineers in THE WORLD; one out of millions. Decades of experience and lots of sacrifices.

Just focus on your priorities. And note the story here is anecdotal, and Pharma focused. Ask your colleagues to see how they advanced.

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u/chimpfunkz Jan 07 '23

The only crazy part of this is the rate. The rest (paid for time traveling, meals) is all bog standard