Also called: Kiln Process Engineer, Cement Process Engineer
Optimizes the giant rotating kilns and grinding mills that turn limestone into cement, and works to cut their huge carbon emissions.
You study data from a kiln the length of a football field spinning at 1,450°C. You tweak the fuel mix to burn more waste tires and less coal, then test a new low-carbon cement recipe with the lab. Cement makes about 8 percent of the world's CO2, so your work matters.
Estimated from BLS chemical engineers.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in chemical, mechanical or materials engineering.
Ways in: 4-year college. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). Chemical engineers overall; decarbonization projects are adding demand.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI kiln optimizers already tune fuel and feed; engineers lead decarbonization and plant fixes.
Classes: AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Calculus.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2041.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.