ANZSCO 233111

Chemical Engineers

EMPLOYED

3,100

PART-TIME SHARE

13%

FEMALE SHARE

23%

MEDIAN WEEKLY EARNINGS

N/A

MEDIAN AGE

38

ANNUAL EMPLOYMENT GROWTH

N/A

Chemical Engineers design and prepare specifications for chemical process systems and the construction and operation of commercial-scale chemical plants, and supervise industrial processing and fabrication of products undergoing physical and chemical changes.

  • Prepares designs for chemical process systems and plans control systems for processes, such as those used to remove and separate components, effect chemical changes, test and evaluate fuels, transfer heat, and control the storing and handling of solids, liquids and gases
  • Monitors the operation and maintenance of equipment to achieve maximum efficiency under safe operating conditions
  • Ensures correct materials and equipment are used and that they conform to specifications
  • Diagnoses malfunctions in chemical plants and instituting remedial action
  • Studies product utilisation and pollution control problems
On this page

    Hours worked

    Source: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Note: those who were classified as "Employed, away from work" at the time of the 2021 Census (accounting for approx. 8% of total employment), have been excluded from the "Average full-time hours worked per week" denominator.
    Hours worked Chemical Engineers All Occupations
    Share of workers who work full-time hours 87% 64%
    Average full-time hours worked per week 43 hours 44 hours

    Industries

    Chemical Engineers work in industries like:

    Source: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Note: industries that comprise less than 5% of an occupation have been suppressed.

    States and territories

    New South Wales

    22.4%

    Victoria

    24.5%

    Queensland

    19.6%

    South Australia

    5.2%

    Tasmania

    0.9%

    Northern Territory

    0.5%

    Australian Capital Territory

    0.4%

    Source: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.

    Age and gender

    Age and Gender Profile
    Source: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Age and Gender Chemical Engineers All Occupations
    Median age 38 years 40 years
    Female share of employment 23% 49%
    Source: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Age Profile (% Share) All Occupations Chemical Engineers
    15–19 5.2 0.1
    20–24 9.1 6.5
    25–34 22.7 32.9
    35–44 22.3 24.8
    45–54 20.4 19.0
    55–59 8.8 7.5
    60–64 6.5 4.5
    65 and Over 4.9 4.7

    Education

    Registration may be required in some states and territories. In addition, Engineers Australia has a non-compulsory National Engineering Register.

    Visit

    • Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
    • ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
    Source: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study).
    Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
    Note: the sum of the educational attainment categories may not add up to 100% due to the exclusion of non-descriptive categories such as not stated responses.
    Highest Level of Educational Attainment (% Share) All Occupations Chemical Engineers
    Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 12.2 30.9
    Bachelor degree 23.2 61.5
    Advanced Diploma/Diploma 11.1 2.1
    Certificate III/IV 19.5 1.7
    Year 12 15.9 1.9
    Year 11 4.0 0.2
    Year 10 and below 9.7 0.1

    This file contains data displayed on the Occupation Profile pages.

    Use of data in this file must include the relevant attribution text provided.

    Occupation profiles data - November 2024.xlsx

    occupation_profiles_data_-_november_2024.xlsx946664

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    Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) is the skill-based classification system used to categorise occupations in the Australian and New Zealand labour markets. ANZSCO provides a basis for the standardised collection, analysis and dissemination of occupation data. Visit the ABS website to learn how ANZSCO works. Jobs and Skills Australia displays data for occupations that are defined by ANZSCO 2013 Version 1.3.