Advancement as a Chemical Engineer

[Vepr]

Hey All,

I'm a process engineer with a background in chemical engineering, working in the food/beverage/distilled spirits industry. I have a BS, and am considering pursuing both PE certification, and a part-time MS in ChemE while I work to improve my job prospects/salary.

Are either of these value add for a process engineer? Which, if either, would you select as being more valuable in industry (defined as better career prospects and higher salary)? If neither, what would you do beyond working to gain experience?

Thanks for your input!

 

[JakeBrodskyPE]

A PE in Controls Engineering will probably have more weight than a Master's degree. However, you may not find it in the food/distilled spirits industries. Depending upon where you are in the country, you may find lucrative work in refineries, water and waste-water, electric power generation, and so forth. For a salary survey, see http://www.controlglobal.com/articles/2014/2014-salary-survey/

 

[russ_watters]

I'm in the construction engineering industry and can say that a PE is somewhere between extremely important and required. But whether it is in the food/alcohol industry depends on government regulation. Does the FDA (or ATF?) require that a PE sign/seal distillery process drawings?

 

[Wellesley]

-If you want to go towards management: an MBA is best.
-As Jake pointed out, a PE in Controls would be enormously useful. Especially in opening doors

However, advancement may require you going to another industry (Oil&Gas, Chemical, etc.)