Chemical Engineers Salary
Chemical Engineers in Rhode Island make a median of $111,590 a year, or about $53.65 an hour. The range runs from $71K at the entry level to $153K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.77), that's roughly $109,649 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,544/month, or 22.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Rhode Island. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $112K get you in Rhode Island?
About chemical engineers
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What this looks like in Rhode Island
Pay for chemical engineers in Rhode Island runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $125K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,544/month, 22.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 101.77) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Rhode Island can be a reasonable trade-off for chemical engineerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Rhode Island
Entry-level chemical engineers (10th percentile) start around $71K. Mid-career wages sit at $112K. Top earners bring in $153K or more, a $82K spread from bottom to top.
Chemical Engineers salary by metro in Rhode Island
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick | $107K | -4% | 80 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Rhode Island numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chemical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Rhode Island?
Yes — at the median salary of $112K, rent takes 22.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,544/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemical engineers in Rhode Island?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemical engineers typically earn — is $71K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,240/month. At HUD’s $1,544/month FMR, rent would take 36% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is chemical engineer a high-paying job in Rhode Island?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $112K here vs. $125K nationally.
How does Rhode Island compare to the national average for chemical engineers?
Rhode Island pays $112K median vs. the U.S. average of $125K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.77), the purchasing-power equivalent is $110K — below the national median.
How much do chemical engineers make in Rhode Island?
The median is $111,590 a year, that works out to about $54 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $70,670, and experienced chemical engineers can clear $152,750. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $112K enough to live in Rhode Island?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,900/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,544/month, which eats 22.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a chemical engineers salary go in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has a Regional Price Parity of 101.77 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median chemical engineers salary is worth about $109,649 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chemical engineers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.