The Most Rewarding Jobs in Oil and Gas for Chemical Engineers

The oil and gas sector is highly diverse – there is a multitude of careers available, each offering something unique. As a qualified chemical engineer, there are ample opportunities in working offshore on rigs, ships and FPSO’s, as well as onshore too. Working within the oil and gas industry helps keep vital resources such as electricity, fuel, and chemical production running.

Chemical engineers are a critical resource to the oil and gas industry, in order to ensure petroleum and oil materials go directly into gas tanks, and that the correct chemicals are used to get crude oil into a usable form. We take a look at the best chemical engineering jobs in oil and gas and explore the benefits of working in this industry.

Most desirable oil and gas jobs

Employers who require chemical engineers span a wide range of industries, with key players including oil and gas. For large exploration and production companies such as Shell, there are a variety of roles for workers with a background in chemical engineering. These workers are needed in the upstream, where catalysts, polymers, and new molecules help boost production. There are also opportunities in labs, as well as downstream operations, which is focused on what happens with hydrocarbons once they are out of the ground.

As conditions for extracting oil become increasingly difficult, chemical engineering jobs within this field are extremely desirable. As reserves become harder to extract, the oil and gas industry requires top quality engineers to sustain it. Because of this, the oil and gas sector offers an extremely generous income, often in excess of £70,000. For graduates looking to get into this industry, it offers the highest graduate engineering salary of any sector – often over £30,000 a year. As most oil and gas companies have offices abroad, there is a chance to gain international experience. This widens the scope of job roles and locations available for chemical engineering jobs, spanning from Offshore Europe, Texas and California, to North Dakota and Alaska.

There is an extensive list of reasons why a chemical engineer would want to go into the oil and gas sector. Asides from the obvious benefits associated with the high pay attached to this kind of job, working in this industry provide the opportunity to travel the world. It’s not just the UK that needs oil, which means workers have the chance to go overseas, and in many cases, work in parts of the world that may not otherwise be accessible. With a universal demand for oil, engineers who are fully trained are able to enjoy the perks that travelling brings.   

In addition, a career in the oil and gas sector as a chemical engineer is not dull. The exciting and challenging nature of this field means that each day is varied. Despite the need to reduce carbon emissions, we’re likely to be dependent on oil and gas for some time now, meaning that there is an on-going need for this field of work. As technology continues to advance in this area, this means that workers will always be learning something new.

For chemical engineers looking for varied working conditions, the oil and gas sector is the ideal field. Offshore oil rigs mean that workers will be outside a lot in varied surroundings, while there are also plenty of jobs that are based in labs and offices, so you have a choice of which work environment you prefer. No matter which work setting you choose, the oil and gas industry offers many training and development opportunities. Due to the need to retain top talent, many employers provide excellent training for their workers, as well as offering other bonuses such as a pension plan and healthcare.

At TRS, we have a number of exciting chemical engineering opportunities within the oil and gas industry. To explore existing opportunities, visit the Oil, Gas and Chemicals Engineering jobs section and apply today.