Australian Education Pathways

Chemical and Materials Engineers

University degree Strong growth · ANZSCO skill level 1 · occupation 2331

Chemical and Materials Engineers design and prepare specifications for chemical process systems and the construction and operation of commercial-scale chemical plants, supervise industrial processing and fabrication of products undergoing physical and chemical change, and investigate the properties of metals, ceramics, polymers and other materials and assess and develop their engineering and commercial applications.

People employed6,700
Median pay$2,849per week, full-time
Projected growth+13.2%over 5 years (to 2030)
Recent growth0%per year
Median age34
Female share37%

How do you get there?

Highest qualification held by people in this job: 91.4% university · 4.5% vet / tafe · 2.9% school / entry (ABS Census via JSA).

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Where these jobs are

NSW 25.1% · QLD 24% · WA 23.3% · VIC 16.7% · SA 4.9% · ACT 2.6% · TAS 1.7% · NT 1.7%

Top industries

Manufacturing · Professional, Scientific and Technical Services · Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation profiles (Feb 2026) + Employment Projections (May 2025–2035). © Commonwealth of Australia, CC BY 4.0. Figures are national estimates.