Entry-level Chemical Engineer salary in Philadelphia, PA
Based on 14 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Collegeville, Malvern, Newark, West Point, Fieldsboro.
Also listed as: Process Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $83,574 |
| 25th | $83,931 |
| 50th (median) | $87,445 |
| 75th | $95,614 |
| 90th | $101,637 |
Cost of living
Philadelphia's median entry-level Chemical Engineer salary of $87,445 is worth about $85,300 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Philadelphia = 102.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Chemical Engineers in the Philadelphia, PA area earned a median of $127,770 in May 2025 (790 employed). The H-1B median here is $87,445, 32% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Jacobs Engineering Group | too few | 3 |
| Arencibia | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $87,445 | 14 |
| Mid-level · Level II | – | 0 |
| Senior · Level III | $124,363 | 13 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 2 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $83,574 | $87,445 | 14 |
| Senior · Level III | $120,411 | $124,363 | 13 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.