Chemical Engineeringat The University of Texas at Austin
Graduates earn $87,365/yr in their first year — about 21.0% above the national Chemical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $983K; scenarios range from $833K to $1,036K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UT Austin
Your decision to explore UT Austin's Chemical Engineering program places you among a cohort keenly aware of strong career prospects. The program's consistent performance isn't merely a reflection of academic rigor, but a direct result of Texas's unique industrial landscape. The state's massive energy, petrochemical, and advanced manufacturing sectors, particularly along the Gulf Coast, create immense demand for these specialized skills.
Beyond traditional roles, Austin's burgeoning tech and biotech scene also offers dynamic pathways, with graduates often securing roles at major corporations like ExxonMobil, Dow, and 3M, or innovative local startups. The program’s strong industry connections and reputation within the Cockrell School of Engineering ensure a well-trod recruiting pipeline. With some roles facing higher AI risk, focus on developing robust problem-solving, project management, and interdisciplinary collaboration skills, as these will be increasingly valued as the industry evolves.
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 UT Austin'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 UT Austin stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UT Austin
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UT Austin, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Chemical Engineering at UT Austin
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin?
This program scores 76/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Chemical Engineering nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Chemical Engineering careers?
With 48% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $832,528 in decade earnings vs $1,035,730 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes The University of Texas at Austin's Chemical Engineering program stand out?
Ranked #7 of 158 programs nationally, The University of Texas at Austin lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.