Chemical Engineer.
Jackson.
$93,000
median salary, 24% below the national average
$73,000 to $115,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
The median Chemical Engineer salary in Jackson is $93,000, 24% below the national average. Entry level starts near $73,000. Experienced professionals push past $115,000. Jackson is Mississippi's capital and largest city, with an economy driven by government, healthcare, and energy. That spread is your negotiation window. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Chemical Engineer in Jackson, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. BLS does not publish this occupation for this metro area, so the national published benchmark is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $125,040 for Chemical Engineers (SOC 17-2041) across the United States, based on 21,070 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$79,420
25th percentile
$97,820
Median
$125,040
75th percentile
$157,190
90th percentile
$182,880
Workers surveyed
21,070
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$121,860
May 2025 release
$125,040
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
Why this differs from the estimate above. The Orbyt estimate of $93,000 is 26% lower than this published figure. That is usually not an error in either number: BLS reports by occupation code, and Chemical Engineers covers a different population than the Chemical Engineer title as it is typically advertised. Both are shown, unreconciled, so you can judge which one describes the job you mean.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Chemical Engineers (SOC 17-2041) rather than Chemical Engineerspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 17-2041Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $84,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$60,000
to $74,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$79,000
to $98,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$102,000
to $121,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$116,000
to $144,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $25,000 to the total package.
Base
$93,000
Equity
$14,000
Bonus
$9,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $118,000
How Jackson compares.
Jackson, MS
$93,000
Cost of living: 21% below average
National Average
$122,000
Jackson is $29,000 below
Chemical Engineer salary by city.
Salary by role in Jackson.
What you should know.
If you are interviewing for Chemical Engineer roles in Jackson, here is what you are walking into. Jackson is Mississippi's capital and largest city, with an economy driven by government, healthcare, and energy. The University of Mississippi Medical Center is a major employer. Jackson offers some of the lowest living costs in the country, making even moderate salaries deliver substantial purchasing power. Industry sector is the top differentiator, with petroleum, semiconductor, and pharmaceutical chemical engineers earning 20 to 35% more than those in food processing or water treatment. Process scale-up experience, Six Sigma certification, and expertise with hazardous materials handling drive additional premiums.
Entry-level chemical engineers start at $76,000 to $88,000. Senior process engineers earn $100,000 to $128,000 after five to eight years. Engineering directors and plant managers reach $140,000 to $185,000 in high-demand industries. In Jackson, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 21% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Oil and gas employers add 10 to 20% bonuses tied to production targets. Semiconductor fabs offer equity grants worth $10,000 to $40,000 annually. Shift differentials of 5 to 15% apply for engineers managing 24/7 production facilities. And on the tax side: mississippi's top income tax rate is 5%. Jackson has no city income tax. The very low cost of living means take home pay goes further here than almost any other metro. When someone quotes you $93,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Benchmark against regional healthcare and government pay scales. Jackson employers offer competitive benefits packages to compensate for lower base salaries. The range for Chemical Engineers in Jackson runs from $73,000 to $115,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Robotics Engineer in Jackson earns $91,000 (2% less)
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Common questions.
Chemical Engineer salary in other cities.
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