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Synthetic materials engineer

Also called plastics engineer, polymers engineer, plastics quality engineer

Synthetic materials engineers develop new synthetic materials processes or improve existing ones. They design and construct installations and machines for the production of synthetic materials and examine samples of raw materials in order to ensure quality.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospects40 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Science and engineering professionalsWhat does it pay?Above averageFrom about €2,000 (Bulgaria) to €7,100 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Science and engineering professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually a degree9 in 10 have a degree.Science and engineering professionalsWill AI change it?LittleLevel 2 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Chemical engineers · ILO

What you'd do

Chemical engineers · ILO
  • Conducting research and advising on, and developing commercial-scale chemical processes to refine crude oil and other liquids or gases, and to produce substances and items such as petroleum derivatives, explosives, food and drink products, medicines, or synthetic materials
  • Specifying chemical production methods, materials and quality standards and ensuring that they conform to specifications
  • Establishing control standards and procedures to ensure safety and efficiency of chemical production operations and safety of workers operating equipment or of those working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions
  • Designing chemical plant equipment and devising processes for manufacturing chemicals and products
  • Performing tests throughout stages of production to determine degree of control over variables, including temperature, density, specific gravity and pressure
  • Developing safety procedures to be employed
  • Preparing estimates of production costs and production progress reports for management
  • Performing laboratory studies of steps in manufacture of new products and testing proposed process in small scale operation such as a pilot plant
Adjust engineering designsAnalyse production processes for improvementDesign engineering componentsWork with chemicalsCheck quality of raw materials+ 6 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • Sitting most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Often more than 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Chemical Engineers"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

Many jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as science and engineering professionals in the EU
5.82m7.82m9.03m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
948,000 new jobs 2,300,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Science and engineering professionals40
All jobs29
Right now
5 of 27 countries report a shortage of chemical engineers, 4 a surplus.
Chemical engineers · EURES

What does it pay?

Above average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €2,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €7,100 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among professionals in the EU, women earn 21% less per hour than men. Professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually a degree

A degree in materials (glass, paper, plastic and wood) is the usual route.

Highest qualification of science and engineering professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 90%Vocational 6%General secondary 3%Basic schooling 1%
Fields that teach it
Materials (glass, paper, plastic and wood) · Building and civil engineering
Vocational route, EU
7 in 10 trainees in this field
Engineering graduates in a matching job
73% in the EU

949 institutions in the EU offer engineering bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Little

AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.35 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 8 tasks
Preparing estimates of production costs and production progress reports for management0.62
Developing safety procedures to be employed0.41
Specifying chemical production methods, materials and quality standards and ensuring that they conform to specifications0.37
Conducting research and advising on, and developing commercial-scale chemical processes to refine crude oil and other liquids or gases, and to produce substances and items such as petroleum derivatives, explosives, food and drink products, medicines, or synthetic materials0.31
Performing tests throughout stages of production to determine degree of control over variables, including temperature, density, specific gravity and pressure0.31
Establishing control standards and procedures to ensure safety and efficiency of chemical production operations and safety of workers operating equipment or of those working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions0.29
Designing chemical plant equipment and devising processes for manufacturing chemicals and products0.26
Performing laboratory studies of steps in manufacture of new products and testing proposed process in small scale operation such as a pilot plant0.24

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for chemical engineers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).