Chemical Engineering as a career option in India – Scope, Eligibility, Salary, top colleges, B.Tech, Job Prospects
Chemical Engineering is one of the many core branches of engineering. Chemical Engineering is offered in B.Tech, M.Tech, Diploma and Ph.D. courses. It deals with fundamentals of chemistry such as chemical reactions, industrial process, energy, biochemistry, inorganic and organic chemistry, molecular chemistry, etc. Many institutes in India offer Chemical Engineering courses, out of which famous colleges are: IITs, NITs, IIITs, DTU, etc.
Admission to B.Tech in Chemical Engineering is done based on entrance exams such as JEE Main, VITEEE, UPSEE, COMEDK, SRMJEEE, etc. Average salary packages after chemical engineering are between INR 3 – 6 lacs per annum. However, salary packages can vary from company to company.
We would recommend you stick around till the end of this article to know more about Salary after Chemical engineering: industry-wise, company wise and job profile wise.
In this article, we have discussed Chemical Engineering, B.Tech in Chemical Engineering, Scope and Job Prospects of Chemical Engineering, Top colleges for Chemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering as a career & Salary.
What is Chemical Engineering?
Chemical Engineering is a branch of engineering that deals with the principles of chemistry and other branches of science to change raw products into useful products. It also deals with identifying and solving technical glitches using chemistry.
It is that part of engineering which influences many areas of technology and is responsible for the conception and design of processes for the purpose of production, transformation, and transportation of materials. This activity of transformation and transportation begins with experiments and is later followed by the implementation of the technology to full-scale production.
It has many sub-branches like nanotechnology, biochemical, bioengineering, polymers, food processing, electrochemical, process engineering, etc.
Chemical Engineering is offered at many levels such as Undergraduate level, Diploma, Post Graduate level, and Doctorate level. Popular areas of study in Chemical Engineering are Inorganic Chemical Technology, Particulate Science and Technology, Organic Chemical Technology, Fluid Mechanics, etc.
B.Tech Chemical Engineering
Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Chemical Engineering is a four-year undergraduate course. It requires a candidate to pass in 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as subjects. Generally, admission to this course is done based on entrance examination followed by counselling process such as JEE Main followed by JoSAA counselling, BITSAT, VITEEE, SRMJEEE, UPSEE, COMEDK, etc.
After completing B.Tech in Chemical Engineering, candidates tend to get a job in sectors like the oil & gas industry, fertilizer industry, power, and energy industry, air conditioning industry, etc. Candidates get to work as Process Engineer, Production Engineer, Maintenance Engineer, Quality Control Engineer, etc. The average salary is from INR 3 lacs to 6 lacs per annum after completing B.Tech.
What is the Eligibility for Chemical Engineering?
There are many courses in which Chemical Engineering specialization is offered. Each type, of course, has different eligibility that is as follows:
Diploma Courses: Candidates need to pass 10th class with Science, Mathematics, and English as compulsory subjects. The duration of such courses is 3 years.
Undergraduate Courses: Candidates need to pass 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects. The duration of such courses is 4 years.
Post Graduate Courses: Candidates need to pass BE (Bachelor of Engineering) or B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) in the related field from a recognized university. The duration of such courses is 2 years.
Doctoral Courses: Candidates need to pass ME (Master of Engineering) or M.Tech (Master of Technology) in Chemical Engineering from a recognized university. The duration of such courses is between 3 years to 5 years depending upon nature, i.e. full-time or part-time.
Scope of Chemical Engineering: Chemical Engineering as a career
After completing Chemical Engineering, candidates have immense scope in various fields. One can get employment opportunities in industrial plants and refineries, offices, laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, etc. Along with private corporations, one can also get to work in government organizations.
Some chemical engineers make designs and invent new processes. While there are some who construct instruments and facilities; there are others who plan and operate facilities. Chemical engineers have helped develop atomic science, polymers, paper, dyes, drugs, plastics, fertilizers, foods, petrochemicals, etc.
Scope of Chemical Engineering is as follows:
- Oil & Petroleum Industry
- Chemical Manufacturing industry
- Food Industry
- Electronics Industry
- Rubber Industry
- Textiles Industry
- Fertilizers Industry
- Paper & Pulp Industry
- Cement Industry
- Health-care Industry
- Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical industry
- Scientific research in the laboratory
Job Profiles after Chemical Engineering:
- Biomedical Engineer
- Chemical Engineer
- Chemical Technician
- Chemical Material Scientist
- Nuclear Engineer
- Design Engineer
- Process Engineer
- Production Engineer
- Maintenance Engineer
- Quality Control Engineer
Top Colleges for Chemical Engineering in India
Many universities/institutes offer Chemical Engineering courses to the students. Out of many, here is the list of top 5 colleges for chemical engineering.
| College/Institute Name | Average Fees per year (INR) |
| Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur | 2.06 lacs |
| Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi | 2.24 lacs |
| National Institute of Technology (NIT), Surathkal | 1.20 lacs |
| Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences (BITS), Pilani | 4.02 lacs |
| Indian Institute of Technology (IIT BHU), Varanasi | 2.17 lacs |
Chemical Engineering Career Salary
Candidates get good salary packages after completing Chemical Engineering in India. If you have done the course from a reputed college, there are chances that you might get the placement for around INR 4 lacs per annum to 9 lacs per annum.
However, the salary can differ according to the industry. As compared to the private sector, the government sector provides better salary packages to fresh graduates.
Government companies offering jobs are Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Indian Oil Corporation Limited, GAIL Limited, HLL Lifecare Limited.
All Government Jobs – Check details here
We present you two tables which will give you a deep insight into salary packages that one gets industry-wise and job profile wise.
Industry Wise Salary Packages
| Petroleum | INR 4 – 7 Lacs per annum |
| Chemical & Pharmaceuticals
Fertilizers |
INR 3 – 6 Lacs per annum |
| Power & Energy | INR 3 – 6 Lacs per annum |
| Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Industry | INR 2 – 5 Lacs per annum |
Job Profile Wise Salary Packages
| Production Engineer | INR 4 – 5 lacs per annum |
| Process Engineer | INR 6 lacs per annum |
| Quality Control Engineer | INR 4 – 5 lacs per annum |
| Maintenance Engineer | INR 3 – 4 lacs per annum |
| Research & Development in Laboratories | INR 4 – 5 lacs per annum |
| Chemical Engineer | INR 3 – 4 lacs per annum |
| Nuclear Engineer | INR 8 – 9 lacs per annum |
| Biomedical Engineer | INR 2 – 4 lacs per annum |
Top companies for Chemical Engineering offering a high salary
Many companies offer jobs after completing a course in chemical engineering in India. However, all the companies might not offer the salary that you are expecting. Not getting a good package might get you to wonder, is chemical engineering a good career? For your help, we have incorporated a list of top companies that offer a high salary to chemical engineers.
Government Sector:
| Company Name | Average Salary Offered (in INR) |
| Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) | 25,000 – 50,000 per month |
| Coal India Limited (CIL) | 20,000 – 46,000 per month |
| Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL) | 25,000 – 50,000 per month |
| Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) | |
| Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) | 20,000 – 46,000 per month |
| National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) | 25,000 – 50,000 per month |
Private Sector:
| Company Name | Average Salary Offered |
| Piramal Healthcare Limited | INR 5 – 6 lacs per annum |
| Pfizer Inc. | INR 12 – 15 lacs per annum |
| Schlumberger Limited | INR 15 – 20 lacs per annum |
| GlaxoSmithKline | INR 7 – 9 lacs per annum |
| Deepak Fertilizers and Petrochemicals Corp. Ltd | INR 28,000 – 30,000 per month |
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