I want to major in something chemistry related for undergrad (like matsci, chemE, or pure chem). With a couple weeks left of junior year, in terms of future salary and chance of success, which approach, either engineering or pure science in general is better? I know that getting a faculty position is impossible and making money as a postdoc isn’t worth it. Is it easy to switch between engineering and pure science between grad and undergrad? If I decide to get a chem undergrad, is shifting my major easy when applying to graduate school? Are there requirements when applying to grad school? etc
If you believe https://db.career.vt.edu/scripts/PostGrad2006/Report/DetailReportSalaries.asp?College=00&Majors=Y&Cohort=2016-2017 (you can check several years), chemical engineering > materials engineering > chemistry in terms of likelihood of employment at graduation and pay level if employed. https://www.cco.purdue.edu/data/ also suggests that chemical engineering graduates have more post-graduation job success than the other majors.
For graduate program requirements, check the specific departments’ web sites to see what they say. Usually for engineering and science, an undergraduate degree in the same subject is the best match, though departments may list expectations in terms of course work which students in other majors may be able to fulfill.
We’ve been told that is much easier to go from chem e to chem than the other way around.
Tech and engineering has more and higher paying jobs than pure science. Chem E is really a better degree than pure Chem. It has a lot more versatility.