Occupation (2251) - 2026-Q1
The workforce of Chemical Engineers during first quarter of 2026 was 25.5k people, whose salary averaged $11.7k MX working around 42.2 hours per week.
The average age of Chemical Engineers was 38.2 years. The workforce was distributed in 60.7% men with an average salary of $12.5k MX and, 39.3% women with average salary of $10.3k MX.
The best average salaries received by Chemical Engineers were in Tamaulipas ($30k MX), Estado de México ($22.4k MX), and Coahuila de Zaragoza ($18.5k MX) while the workforce was larger in Estado de México (7.66k), Ciudad de México (5.2k), and Nuevo León (4.39k).
In terms of industries, the best average salaries were in General Public Administration ($17.4k MX), Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance ($12k MX), and Metallic Ore Mining ($10.8k MX), while the workforce was concentrated on Legal Services (2.97k), Medical Doctors Offices (2.41k), and Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance (2.01k).
6.53% of the total informal workers correspond to women with an average salary of $38.7k MX and 93.5% to men with an average salary of $2.3k MX.
At the level of states, Michoacán de Ocampo had the highest percentage of informal workers with 100% corresponding to 172 from 172 workers, while the state with the lowest percentage of informal workers was Nuevo León with a 4.38% corresponding to 192 from 4.39k workers.
At first quarter of 2026, the people who worked as Chemical Engineers were 25.5k being a 8.56% higher than the fourth quarter of 2025. (23.5k).
In the same period, an average salary of $11.7k MX was observed, registering an increase of 20.9%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2025 ($9.65k MX).
The states with the highest number of Chemical Engineers during the first quarter of 2026 were Estado de México (7.66k), Ciudad de México (5.2k), and Nuevo León (4.39k)
Comparing the first quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2026, the main positive variations occurred in Nuevo León and Ciudad de México with an increase of 2.46k (128%) and 944 (22.2%), respectively. On the other hand, the negative variations were accentuated in Estado de México and Jalisco with a decrease of 2.56k (25%) and 1.16k (47.1%), respectively.
The states with the best average salaries for Chemical Engineers during first quarter of 2026 were Tamaulipas ($30k MX), Estado de México ($22.4k MX), and Coahuila de Zaragoza ($18.5k MX)
Comparing the first quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2026, the positive salary growth was higher in Coahuila de Zaragoza and Estado de México with an increase of $13.3k MX (257%) and $11.6k MX (107%), respectively. Por otro lado, las variaciones salariales negativas se acentuaron en Colima and Durango with a decrease of $21.4k MX (100%) and $19.5k MX (60.1%), respectively.
Average Schooling in Years (2026-Q1): 16.6, Men
During the first quarter of 2026, male and female workforce in Chemical Engineers was concentrated in the educational segment with 16 to 18 years of schooling (13.8k men and 10k women).
The highest average salary was $14.1k MX received by men with 16 to 18 years of schooling, while the lowest average salary was $14.1k MX received by men with 16 to 18 years of schooling.
* The data regarding salaries have low statistical precision so it should not be used as conclusions.
The visualization shows the distribution of Chemical Engineers in different industries and economic sectors.
At first quarter of 2026, the workforce was higher in Legal Services (23.4%), Medical Doctors Offices (19%), and Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance (15.9%).
In the same period, the best average salaries were received in General Public Administration ($17.4k MX), Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance ($12k MX), and Metallic Ore Mining ($10.8k MX).
Labor Informality 2026-Q1
During the first quarter of 2026, the labor informality of Chemical Engineers reached a 6.24%, which implied a decrease from 2.43 percentage points compared to the fourth quarter of 2025 (8.67%).
The labor informality of this occupation was lower than informality at the country level in 48.5 percentage points during the first quarter of 2026.
Greater Labor Informality: 100%, Michoacán de Ocampo
Less Labor Informality: 4.38 %, Nuevo León
At first quarter of 2026, the states with the highest rate of labor informality in Chemical Engineers were Michoacán de Ocampo (100%), Sinaloa (64.3%), and Baja California (50.4%).
The states with the lowest informality rate were Durango (15.4%), Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave (13.6%), and Nuevo León (4.38%).
The workforce of Chemical Engineers during the first quarter of 2026 was higher in the age group with 25 to 34 years concentrating 11.9k workers of which 96.2% corresponds to formal employment (11.5k) and 3.75% to informal employment (447).
Regarding the schooling years, the workforce was higher in the range with 16 to 18 years of schooling concentrating 23.9k workers of which 94.1% corresponds to formal employment (22.5k) and 5.87% corresponds to informal employment (1.4k).