Chemical Engineeringat Milwaukee School of Engineering
Graduates earn $55,333/yr in their first year — about 23.0% below the national Chemical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $718K; scenarios range from $638K to $742K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Milwaukee School of Engineering
The earnings trajectory for chemical engineering graduates from MSOE suggests a challenging entry into the job market, often reflecting the regional labor dynamics. While Milwaukee has a robust industrial base, many local chemical engineering roles are in established manufacturing, food and beverage processing, or traditional industrial chemicals, which, while stable, may not command the highest salaries compared to innovation-driven sectors or regions.
Your career path here might lean more towards process optimization or quality control in these industries, rather than cutting-edge R&D in pharmaceuticals or advanced materials science found in other hubs. The program's practical focus prepares you well for these hands-on roles, but securing top-tier compensation often requires looking beyond the immediate local economy. To mitigate these trends, actively seek internships with companies operating in higher-value, specialized chemical sectors or outside the immediate Milwaukee region, expanding your network proactively.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Milwaukee School of Engineering's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Chemical Engineering
How Milwaukee School of Engineering stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Milwaukee School of Engineering
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Milwaukee School of Engineering, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Chemical Engineering at Milwaukee School of Engineering
What does a 51/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Chemical Engineering at Milwaukee School of Engineering?
At 51/100, the score looks reasonable — but Chemical Engineering is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Should I worry about AI if I study Chemical Engineering at Milwaukee School of Engineering?
The 48% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is Milwaukee School of Engineering a good choice for Chemical Engineering despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If Milwaukee School of Engineering's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
What do students actually pay for Chemical Engineering at Milwaukee School of Engineering?
The 50% gap between sticker price and net cost means most students pay far less than $193,684. At a net cost of $96,084, the earnings multiple improves substantially.