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Chemical engineers are professionals who conceive and design processes to produce, transform and transport materials. Starting from the chemical experiment in the laboratory to implementing the technology in full-scale production. It is a discipline that has impacted several areas of technology. Several industries depend on the synthesis and processing of chemicals and materials.
As a result, a chemical engineer is always in great demand. Chemical engineers are needed in industries that focus on biomedicine advancement, energy, food processing, electronic device fabrication, and environmental engineering. The unique skills of a chemical engineer become useful when the processes involve the Chemical transformation of matter. Keep reading to know more about the chemical engineering syllabus, eligibility requirements, top universities, chemical engineers’ salaries, and the future scope.
| Position Name | Chemical Engineer |
| Qualification Required | B.E. in Materials Engineering, B. Tech in Biochemical Engineering, and B.Sc in Chemical Engineering |
| Hiring Sectors | Energy, food processing, and electronic device fabrication, among others |
| Skills Required | Project management skills, analytical and technical skills, IT skills, and communication skills |
| Expected Salary | INR 4-7 lakh |
Table of Contents
Why Become a Chemical Engineer?
Below are the reasons you should become a chemical engineer in India
- Chemical engineers are in great demand in sectors like biotechnology, electronic device fabrication, and pharmaceutical industries
- A chemical engineer receives a high salary in India. On average, the starting salary of a chemical engineer in India is around INR 6 lakh per annum.
- A chemical engineer is offered several benefits by an employer such as health insurance, provident fund, travel allowance, rent allowance, and retirement perks among others.
- Chemical engineering job opportunities include working as a chemical engineer, petroleum engineer, nuclear engineer, processes engineer, and chemical plant and systems operator.
Also, Read- How to prepare for JEE Mains 2023?
Roles and Responsibilities
Below are the roles and responsibilities of a chemical engineer
- Chemical engineers are responsible for designing and developing chemical processes for manufacturing at a large scale.
- Planning, testing production techniques and providing support for chemical operations and equipment.
- Data monitoring and analysis from processes and experiments
- Troubleshoot problems and develop safety methods
- Find out methods to optimize the performance of chemical equipment, and processes, and ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations
- Research for developing and improving new chemical manufacturing processes
- Calculate the production costs and production progress reports for management
- Examine the process and control over variables like density, pressure, and temperature
Core subjects
Chemical engineering has certain core subjects and electives that give students basic to advance level understanding. Below are the core subjects a chemical engineering student has to follow
| Core Subjects |
| Thermodynamics |
| Biochemical Engineering |
| High Polymer Engineering |
| Biochemical Engineering |
| Environmental Engineering |
| Safety Engineering |
| Fluid Mechanics |
| Process Instrumentation |
| Material Science and Engineering |
| Electives |
| Food Technology |
| Ceramic Technology |
| Computational Fluid Dynamics |
| Water Treatment Technology |
| Surface Coating |
| Bio-nanotechnology |
| Rubber Technology |
| Industrial Pollution Control |
Steps to Become a Chemical Engineer
Below are the steps that you can follow to become a chemical engineer in India
Educational Qualification
To become a chemical engineer a student has to choose the science stream in the 10th. The core subjects have to be Physics, chemistry, and mathematics. After clearing the 12th board exam, the student can choose to pursue their graduate studies in the following subjects or similar fields in Materials Engineering, B. Tech in Biochemical Engineering, and B.Sc in Chemical Engineering, To get admission in these courses the student will have to clear the entrance examination. Do note that the courses listed below are for a period of 4 years.
Master’s interested applicants can take the GATE examination. Several universities conduct assignments and internships through tie-ups with large MNCs. The Master’s courses are for a duration of 2 years. After completing the postgraduate course the candidate can do PhD research as well.
| Course Name | Eligibility Criteria | Entrance Exams |
| B.Tech in Chemical Engineering and Textile | Must have completed 10+2 with a minimum of 50% marks and pass relevant exams | JEE Advanced JEE Mains |
| B.E. in Chemical Engineering | Must have completed 10+2 with a minimum of 50% marks and pass relevant exams | BITSAT CUCET VITEEE |
| B.Tech in Chemical Engineering | Must have completed 10+2 with a minimum of 50% marks | JEE Advanced JEE Mains LPU NEST SRMJEEE |
| M.Tech in Chemical Engineering | Must hold a degree of B.E./ B.Tech in Chemical Engineering and must have an aggregate of 50% in graduation | PGCET GATE |
Skills Required
Apart from educational qualifications, there are certain skills that are required to become a chemical engineer in India.
Also read: Engineering Universities in Australia
Jobs and Salary
Below are the job opportunities and the salary of a chemical engineer in India.
| Designation | Average Salary |
| Development Chemical Engineer | INR 4- 5 lakh per annum |
| Chemical Engineers | INR 3- 4 lakh per annum |
| Quality Manager | INR 7-8 lakh per annum |
| Materials Engineer | INR3-4 lakh per annum |
| Analytical Chemist | INR 4- 5 lakh per annum |
| Mining Engineer | INR 7-8 lakh per annum |
| Energy Manager | INR 6- 7 lakh per annum |
Best Colleges for Chemical Engineering in India
Some of the best colleges in India for Chemical Engineering are listed below:
- IIT Bombay
- IIT Delhi
- BITS Pilani
- Chandigarh University
- DTU- Delhi Technological University
- Manipal Institute of Technology
Top Recruiters
Below are the chemical engineer’s top recruiters in India
Chemical engineers are in demand in chemical manufacturing industries, petroleum industries, food industries, textile industries, rubber industries, and aerospace industries, among others. Below are the main recruiters in India for chemical engineering. Do note that the monthly salary offered in the public sector for chemical engineers is INR 20,000 to INR 50,000 per month. In the private sector, the salary of a chemical engineer can range from INR 5 lakh to IINR 15 lakh per annum.
| Top Government Recruiters | Top Private Recruiter |
| Coal India Limited (CIL) | Piramal Healthcare Limited |
| Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL) | Pfizer Inc. |
| Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) | Schlumberger Limited |
| Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) | GlaxoSmithKline |
| Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) | |
| National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) |
FAQs
Ans. Yes, chemical engineering courses require mathematics skills.
Ans. The USA and the UK are the best countries to pursue chemical engineering.
Ans. Yes. Chemical engineering is a challenging subject to study.
To become a chemical engineer a student will have to take up science in the 10th standard. Moreover, he/she will have to take up a discipline related to chemical engineering such as B.E. in chemical engineering. A chemical engineer is needed in several industries such as the biomedicine advancement industry, energy, and food processing industry. Need help with study abroad admissions? Call us at 1800 572 000 and book our free 30-minute counselling session today.