Chemical Engineeringat University of Wisconsin-Madison
Graduates earn $85,945/yr in their first year — about 19.0% above the national Chemical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $904K; scenarios range from $774K to $948K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UW-Madison
At $85,945 per year, Chemical Engineering graduates from University of Wisconsin-Madison earn slightly above the $72,288 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
With a 20.2x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 18% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Chemical Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
The median debt load of $21,638 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
At #16 of 158 programs, this Chemical Engineering program outperforms the majority of its peers. The top 10% ranking reflects consistently above-average outcomes.
The limited growth from $85,945 to $102,023 over five years suggests earnings in this field plateau relatively early in one's career.
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 UW-Madison'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 UW-Madison stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UW-Madison
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UW-Madison, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Chemical Engineering at UW-Madison
What does a 75/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Chemical Engineering at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
At 75/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Should I worry about AI if I study Chemical Engineering at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
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.