<p>what are your thoughts about the science major route vs. the engineering route, ie ChemE and chemistry. What are the differences, the similarities, the pay, the workload, etc.?</p>
<p>The approach ChemE emphasizes is different from the chemist’s. When we compare, we have to refer to the right context: engineers vs scientists, engineering degree vs science degree.</p>
<p>In general, engineers are the one who “make things”, but not exclusively. Science major people can make the same invention. The difference between engineers and scientists is literally the area they work in.
For a chemist, his concern would be the study of chemistry, while engineering is more concern about the process of manufacturing. </p>
<p>Take drug industry for example. Chemist studies the nature and impacts of the ingredients of a particular drug, whereas the engineers use the data and analysis provide by the chemist to design the process that will produce the desire drug.</p>
<p>If you are still confuse, let us define:
chemistry major: you study chemistry, literally.
chemical engineering: you use chemistry to produce the desire product / process</p>
<p>Both science and engineering analyze, investigate, and study chemistry in general, the again, the area they specialize are different. </p>
<p>Speaking of starting salary, ChemE is definitely higher than a chemist. There are more potential employments open to ChemE than to Chemistry major.</p>
<p>If you want to go on to medical school, or further your concentration in any one of the biological science (biology, biochemistry, environmental science, etc), chemistry is more preferable.</p>
<p>However, ChemE is more secure in job outlook.
If I have to make another statement: scientists prepare the dishes, engineers are the chief (for the most part), and customer services are the servers.
Chemist is a specialist in the study of chemistry, while ChemE is a specialist in chemical engineering process.</p>
<p>However, notice that there are courses that are only offer in chemE (respectively in chemistry). This is exactly what I mean by approach.</p>
<p>Engineers usually make $20,000 to $35,000 more than science majors out of college.
Scientists do the research. Engineers apply that research to the real world.</p>
<p>I know a girl who just graduated from Texas with a degree in Chemical Engineering and now works for an Oil company. Her starting salary you may ask? 85,000$ + company car + health insurance + 401k and more.</p>
<p>I had to laugh at some of the explanations and comments, I’ve got to admit … </p>
<p>Having worked in the Chemical Industry for 20 years, I think I’m qualified to add my 2 cents. </p>
<p>A chemist (at least in our company) works mainly in the lab, whereas the engineer works in his office and in the plant. The chemist works on the chemical process to create a new molecule or modify an existing one - on a lab scale, i.e. up to about 1 quart. The engineer takes this lab procedure and translates it into a manufacturing procedure in large reactors (up to several thousand gallons).
The engineer is more dealing with heat transfer, mixing/agitation, physical aspects of distillation, pumps, etc. etc whereas the chemist cares about why a certain impurity was formed, how to analyze for certain by-products, etc. </p>
<p>The starting salary that alchemist mentions (85k) is unheard of in our company (and definitely NO company car!), but this heavily depends on the company and what region you’re talking about. But yes, Engineers DO make more than Chemists … ! </p>
<p>Interesting side-note: In Europe, the ‘valuation’ is exactly opposite: Chemists make more than Engineers!</p>
<p>jwxie’s post comes down to this: chemists discover new knowledge and engineers make better use of the knowledge we already have. From a corporate standpoint, this means chemists spend company money doing research, and engineers save the company money through improved efficiency and cheaper products and processes. Because engineers are on the profit side of the money stream, they get paid more.</p>
<p>In terms of schooling, engineering is far more mathematical. Chemical processes are typically modelled through mathematical equations, then the math is solved and the answer is converted back to chemistry. A fair amount of college chemistry is conceptual and isn’t very quantitative at all.</p>
<p>In terms of careers, there isn’t much available for a bachelor’s level chemist other than teaching middle/high school science or working as a technician. More and more these days a higher degree, usually a PhD, is required to land a really satisfying career doing chemistry. Even jobs like forensic science which in the past have not required a PhD are moving increasingly in that direction simply because that degree imparts more authority on the witness stand.</p>
<p>Chemists usually start on a technical track (meaning lab work), and if they advance far enough, they have the option of moving into management or staying on the science side. Management pays more, but I also hear “I miss the lab” a lot from people who have made that choice. Having a PhD automatically moves you many spaces forward toward this option.</p>
<p>Engineers on the other hand, can more easily embark on a career right out of college, and make more money doing it.</p>
<p>I should add this, though: getting a PhD is more than just collecting a new piece of paper. The process changes the way you understand chemistry after only four years of taking classes. Undergraduate chemistry is mostly about what is already known, and graduate school is about what is not known, and that’s a whole different perspective.</p>