Chemical engineers conduct research to develop and improve chemical manufacturing processes. They design and plan layouts of equipment. A bachelor's degree in chemical engineering or chemistry is required, along with high school courses in physics and chemistry. Starting salaries for chemical engineers are typically $59,000-$63,000 per year, increasing with experience. Career advancement may include moving from supervised work to technical specialist roles to engineering management positions. Top schools for chemical engineering include MIT, the University of Wisconsin, and the University of California, Berkeley.