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Do you like science, possess good mathematical, research, and analytical skills, and like working with chemicals? If yes, a career as a Chemical Engineer could be ideal for you.

Chemical engineers are vital to new industrial processes, plants, and equipment developments and alterations.

To become a chemical engineer in Australia, you must complete a formal qualification in Chemical Engineering, like a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering.

Follow it up with a master's degree in Chemical Engineering. Further, join professional bodies like Engineers Australia and register with National Engineering.

In this blog, you will learn the chemical engineers' work profile – duties, requisite skills, engineering jobs, career opportunities, qualifications, courses, work conditions, average salary, and pathway to becoming one.

1. What Is Chemical Engineering?

Chemical Engineering is a vast field that encompasses all stages of product manufacturing, from chemistry to economics. It is concerned with developing efficient processes to produce, use, transport, and convert raw materials and energy. 

Chemical engineers in Australia work in large-scale industries such as energy generation, mineral processing and manufacturing of consumer products such as cosmetics, medicines, and food.

2. What Are Chemical Engineers?

Chemical engineers have a strong knowledge of the properties and behaviours of chemical compounds and substances.

They use it to design the best ways to transform raw matter - like oils or minerals into finished consumer goods and commercial products such as petrol, chemical plants, toothpaste, pharmaceuticals, plastics, cosmetics, and food factories.

They apply their knowledge in mathematics, chemistry, and other scientific fields to research, design, and develop technical specifications of materials to create products or examine chemical interactions.

They also oversee the construction and operation of manufacturing facilities and industrial processes to improve efficiencies and lessen production costs.

3. What Do Chemical Engineers Do?

The duties and tasks of Chemical engineers vary by sector. The key day-to-day responsibilities within chemical engineering are mentioned below:

• Form specifications and plans for new production plants by considering available technology, transport methods, equipment cost and size, storage space, market demand, and disposal of substances.

• Identify the best combinations and materials for specific product uses

• Design chemical process systems

• Ensure eco-friendly, efficient, and safe operation of industrial process facilities

• Monitor and review processes and materials 

• Test products at varying production stages to check their quality

• Plan and control processes that transform raw materials into finished products

• Prepare reports and feasibility statements to present to stakeholders and clients.

• Fabricate new designs to make efficient, affordable, and safe products that are in line with the company’s needs

• Monitor industrial conditions, operations, and material reactions 

• Diagnose and resolve malfunctions or faults in chemical plants or material or chemical processes

• Design experiments to test the chemical process of a mixture of different components 

• Ensure that products adhere to legal and quality standards 

• Recommend safety, maintenance, and inspection procedures

• Supervise the operation and upkeep of equipment to obtain maximum efficiency under safe working conditions

• Study resource utilization and pollution control issues

• Direct and manage the work of construction and maintenance process plant operators or tradespeople

• Assess production methods based on cost efficiency, eco-friendliness, optimum product quality, and maximum output

• Test and research materials in processing plants or labs 

• Adhere to strict safety, hygiene, and health protocols by using sanitation procedures and protective clothing

• Work with process chemical engineers and control engineers to ensure the proper operation of the process plant.

• Safely process gaseous and liquid chemicals while applying electrical rules.

• Educate the production teams about the latest safety protocols and regulations while working with hazardous chemicals

4. What Tools And Technologies Do Chemical Engineers Use?

Chemical engineers use computers, automated machine equipment, and complex software to:

• Test and measure materials and processes

• Solve issues in energy, fluid mechanics, unit operations, reactor engineering, mass and heat transfer, and design and control.

Some of the popularly used Chemical Engineering software include:

• Specialized computer programs to draw construction designs

• Software for Mathematical Modeling - MS Excel, Matlab, and Mathworks Simulink

• Process Simulation Software: Aspen HYSUS, Aspen PLUS, CHEMCAD

• Computational Fluid Dynamics Software: COMSOL Multiphysics and ANSYS Fluent

5. Chemical Engineer Skills And Personal requirements

Chemical engineers use interpersonal and technical skills to perform their daily tasks. Some of them are below:

• Thorough understanding of chemical components, complex materials, and industrial manufacturing

• Enjoy technical work

• Safety-conscious

• Able to identify, evaluate and resolve issues

• Good communication skills

• Aptitude for design and computing

• Creative

• Practical 

• Innovation

• Able to accept responsibility

• Able to work autonomously

• Teamwork

• Mathematical and statistics skills

• Attention to detail

• Analytical skills

• Critical thinking

6. Chemical Engineer Qualifications In Australia

To work as a Chemical Engineer in Australia, you usually need a bachelor’s degree in engineering, majoring in chemical engineering, and some work experience.

Here are the steps to qualify for this role:

• Complete your Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education or equivalent in pre-requisite subjects such as English, biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics

• Complete a university qualification in Chemical Engineering, such as a 4-year full-time Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Chemical) 

• Continue your education and specialize in a niche by completing a 2 or 3-year full-time Master’s qualification such as the Master of Engineering (Chemical)

• Join the Institution of Chemical Engineers and  to get access to industry updates, developments, and opportunities

• Seek internship/ placement opportunities with established firms while studying to gain valuable industry experience. Experienced Graduates should fulfill Continuing Professional Development requirements and register with the National Engineering Register.

7. Steps To Become A Chemical Engineer In Australia

Considering the complex nature of material compounds, potentially hazardous work environment, and demanding health and safety needs, chemical engineers must undergo thorough training and education.

Here are the required steps to follow to get started in this profession:

Step 1: Complete Your Bachelor's Degree

Though there are different pathways, a graduate degree is a minimum requirement to pursue this career. Consider completing a four-year full-time bachelor's degree in Engineering with a major in chemical engineering.

The modules taught under this qualification prepare you to undertake master-level and professional certifications. However, to be eligible for a bachelor’s program, you should complete your high school in chemistry, maths, and engineering.

Step 2: Complete A Postgraduate Degree

You can become a chemical engineer with a bachelor's degree, but several employers look for candidates with postgraduate degrees.

A master's degree usually takes around 2-3 years to complete full-time. It helps develop your technical skills and industry knowledge.

You can undertake a master's degree in chemical engineering or related fields such as biomedical engineering or molecular thermodynamics.

This advanced qualification is the route to specializing in a niche, getting promoted to senior roles, and earning a higher salary.

Step 3: Join Professional Institutions

Once you have an undergraduate and postgraduate degree, you may gain membership at a professional institution such as Engineers Australia and the Institution of Chemical Engineers and join the National Engineering register.

Membership in professional bodies will help you build a professional network, find new jobs, boost your CV, and demonstrate your competencies to prospective employers.

Industry bodies:

8. How To Become A Chemical Engineer With A Chemistry Degree?

Obtaining a Chemistry degree is the first step to pursuing a Chemical Engineer role. Many reputed Australian universities offer a bachelor’s degree course in Chemical Engineering to train engineers to solve extreme global challenges.

Undertaking a Chemistry degree course, a student learns how to:

• Apply the fundamental principles of chemistry and physics 

• Analyze and design plants, control systems, and processes for safety, sustainability, and productivity

Graduates from these courses can use their skills and knowledge of engineering, chemistry, mathematics, and biology to produce fuel, drugs, chemicals, and food.

Moreover, the course helps them develop necessary workplace skills in project management, finance, communication, sustainability, and entrepreneurship.

These transferable skills prove to be helpful in various careers within the chemical engineering sector.

• Duration: 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent up to 10 years maximum.

• Mode of delivery: Face to Face

• Duration: 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent.

• Location: North Terrace Campus 

Chemical Engineering Requirements For University: 

• Guaranteed Entry Score - Chemical engineering ATAR 80 

• Guaranteed Entry Score - IB 29

• Must not have completed over 2 years of full-time equivalent university study (48 units)

• Deferment Yes - 2 year

• VET Study: Must have completed an AQF Certificate IV or above from an RTO 

9. Where Do Chemical Engineers Work?

Chemical engineers work in various manufacturing industries related to paints, plastics, consumables, iron, steel products, fertilizers, organic industrial chemicals, petroleum refineries, and pharmaceuticals.

Opportunities are also available in government departments and companies in environmental control, mining, recycling, renewable energy, resource utilization, waste management, gas, and electricity industries.

Typical job roles for Chemical Engineers include:

• Biotechnology engineer

• Chemical safety manager

• Nuclear engineer

• Mineral processing engineer

• Environmental remediation engineer

• Water treatment designer

After working for some years, chemical engineers can move into other related areas, including food engineering, mineral engineering, and biotechnology.

Some government agencies also employ these professionals to examine and monitor the impact of chemical processes on air and water.

Highly experienced Chemical Engineers may work as consultants with engineering companies or on a self-employed basis. Major public-sector companies that regularly hire these professionals are:

• Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

• The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation

• State authorities are concerned with water supply, gas, environmental protection, and electricity.

10. Areas Of Specializations

Chemical engineers who have accumulated several years of experience can further undertake training to gain expertise to pursue senior roles such as managers, personnel directors, or managing directors of large firms.

Following are the options available for specialization:

• Bioprocess 

• Combustion 

• Process Control

• Environmental 

• Chemical Process 

• Minerals

• Petroleum

• Petrochemicals 

• Project Delivery 

11. Working Conditions For A Chemical Engineer

Chemical engineers usually work standard hours but occasionally work shifts on-site, during the commissioning of new manufacturing plants or work overtime to meet demanding design deadlines.

They work in diverse work settings, including engineering design companies, laboratories, factories, research institutions, and universities to conduct chemical process research or on-site at process plants.

Those involved in the design may require occasional travel to visit construction and processing plants to supervise continuous production process facilities. 

Due to the hazardous work environment on-site, they must wear personal protective equipment such as hard hats, goggles, face masks, reflective and bright safety clothing, enclosed steel-capped boots, gloves, and more.

12. Job Prospects Of Chemical Engineers In Australia

Industries

Chemical Engineers are primarily employed in the following:

• Electricity, Gas, Water, Waste Services

• Manufacturing

• Mining

• Professional, Scientific, Technical Services

The profession projects moderate future demand in the coming years.

Working arrangements

Around 89% of Chemical Engineers work full-time hours.

This is 23 percentage points more than the average of all other jobs (66%). Full-time workers work an average of 44 hours per week at work.

Percentage Employment throughout Australia

Around 74% of professionals live in capital cities. Western Australia is the top state with a large share of employment compared to its population size.

• New South Wales: 23.8%

• Victoria: 26.7%

• Queensland: 17.8%

• South Australia: 5.9%

• Western Australia: 23.7%

• Tasmania: 1.2%

• Northern Territory: 0.6%

• Australian Capital Territory: 0.3%

Employee’s profile

The average age of Chemical Engineers is 38 years, nearly the same as the average of all jobs, 40 years. Most of the workers are between 25 and 34 years.

Females constitute 20% of the workforce which is 28 percentage points below the average of all jobs of 48%.

13. How Much Is A Chemical Engineer's Salary In AUS?

A chemical engineer's salary depends on several factors such as qualifications, work experience, specialization, work location, and industry.

Chemical engineering is a well-paid profession. According to PayScale, the average chemical engineering salary is AU$71,338 per year or an hourly equivalent to AU$34.49 per hour.

Salary estimates for Chemical Engineers based on their relevant work experience:

• Graduate chemical engineer salary in Australia (< 1-year experience): AU$65,232 

• Early career Chemical Engineer (1-4 years of experience): AU$70,219 per year 

• Mid-career Chemical Engineer (5-9 years of experience): AU$89,824 per year 

• Experienced Chemical Engineer (10-19 years of experience): AU$122,115 per year 

Based on job openings, Chemical Engineers have higher earning potential in the following cities:

• Joondalup, Western Australia: $111,149 per year

• Pullenvale, Queensland: $97,516 per year

• Brisbane, Queensland: $96,254 per year

• Melbourne, Victoria: $88,755 per year

• Perth, Western Australia: $88,503 per year

• Clayton, Victoria: $84,381 per year

• Sydney, New South Wales: $81,518 per year

14. Conclusion

Chemical Engineering is vast and diverse. From consumer goods and medicines to industrial chemicals and products, Chemical Engineers play a vital role in fulfilling our daily needs and making our life easier.

Since these professionals are in-demand across diverse industries, the future job prospects seem strong and stable in Australia.

If you are passionate about working in the chemical industry and possess good troubleshooting and analytical skills, a career in Chemical Engineering could be an exciting, lucrative, and fulfilling way to pursue your passion.

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