10 Highest paying Engineering jobs in Chile

Engineering professionals in Chile can land some of Latin America’s best paying jobs. Top specialists in fields like cybersecurity analysis can earn up to CLP 63,000,000 per year.

This complete salary guide shows the highest paying engineering jobs in Chile. Software engineering positions average CLP 33,056,421 yearly, and new roles in blockchain development are emerging fast. This piece helps both seasoned professionals and newcomers learn about salary ranges and market trends for 2025.

Civil Engineer

Civil engineers play a key role in Chile’s infrastructure development. These high paid engineers design buildings and manage transportation networks. Their skills are valuable in both public and private sectors, which makes civil engineering one of the highest paying engineering fields in the country.

Salary Range for Civil Engineer

Experience Level	Average Annual Salary (CLP)
0-2 years	11,638,300
2-5 years	16,079,800
5-10 years	22,799,000
10-15 years	27,841,200
15-20 years	29,399,100
20+ years	32,038,500

Education makes a big difference in earning potential. Engineers with a bachelor’s degree earn around CLP 16,079,800, while those with master’s degrees make much more at CLP 29,399,100.

Skill Requirements for a Civil Engineer

Chilean civil engineers need both technical knowledge and project management skills. They work mainly on designing and building major infrastructure like buildings, water systems, and transportation networks.

Mining Engineer

Chilean mining engineers lead one of the country’s most strategic industries. They drive breakthroughs and eco-friendly practices in mineral extraction. Chile owns more than 48% of the world’s lithium reserves and maintains strong copper production. These highly paid engineers play a significant role in the nation’s economic development.

Salary Range for Mining Engineer

Experience Level	Average Annual Salary (CLP)
0-2 years	11,809,800
2-5 years	15,118,700
5-10 years	20,878,800
10-15 years	25,919,400
15-20 years	27,841,200
20+ years	29,641,500

Mining engineers in Chile earn a median salary of approximately CLP 20,760,500 yearly. Monthly salaries range from CLP 1,716,667 to CLP 4,100,000. These figures show the wide range of compensation packages across the industry.

Skill Requirements for a Mining Engineer

Chile’s mining sector needs professionals with specialised technical knowledge and adaptable skills. Essential competencies include:

Most positions (53%) need a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering. Companies value professionals who understand digital technologies as mining operations adopt automation, artificial intelligence, and clean technologies.

Petroleum Engineer

Chile’s push toward energy self-sufficiency has made petroleum engineers highly valued professionals in its expanding oil and gas sector. The country has 3.5 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves and continues to find new oil deposits. These high paid engineers earn some of the highest engineering salaries in the nation.

Salary Range for Petroleum Engineer

Experience Level	Annual Salary (CLP) – National Average	Annual Salary (CLP) – Las Condes
0-2 years	11,928,100	11,434,900
2-5 years	15,599,800	15,238,200
5-10 years	21,841,900	22,558,900
10-15 years	26,158,200	27,479,000
15-20 years	28,439,500	30,001,600
20+ years	30,721,900	32,519,500

Your location affects your pay. Engineers in Concepción earn higher average salaries of CLP 56,635,843 annually, which exceeds the national average by 8.2%.

Skill Requirements for Petroleum Engineer

Chilean petroleum engineers need a mix of technical and people skills to succeed. Most roles require a master’s degree in petroleum engineering or a similar field. This reflects the complex technical knowledge needed in this field.

Electrical Engineer

Electrical engineers are high paid engineers in Chile. They drive the digital shift across industries like renewable energy, telecommunications, and mining. Their knowledge of power systems, automation, and electronics makes them highly valued professionals in the country’s growing tech world.

Salary Range for Electrical Engineer

Experience Level	Annual Salary (CLP)
0-2 years	12,361,500
2-5 years	16,079,800
5-10 years	22,558,900
10-15 years	27,118,300
15-20 years	29,399,100
20+ years	31,800,300

Skill Requirements for Electrical Engineers

Electrical engineers in Chile need diverse skills that blend technical expertise with analytical thinking. These key skills include:

• Physical-mathematical modeling skills to understand dynamic systems and uncertainty sources
• Analytical abilities to create and design tech solutions
• Experimental design capabilities to test and validate tech developments
• Project management expertise to run technological projects

Engineers need a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering with strong knowledge of physical sciences and math. Most programs take 12 semesters to complete.

Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical engineering is one of the top paying engineering jobs, and it stands out as one of the most versatile disciplines in Chile’s industrial world. These professionals make significant contributions to mining, energy, manufacturing, and transportation sectors. Their adaptability makes them valuable assets in the country’s economic framework.

Salary Range for Mechanical Engineer

Experience Level	Average Annual Salary (CLP)
0-2 years	12,481,200
2-5 years	16,079,800
5-10 years	22,198,500
10-15 years	27,479,000
15-20 years	29,519,900
20+ years	31,440,200

Skill Requirements for Mechanical Engineering

Successful mechanical engineers in Chile combine technical expertise with people skills. They need:

• Technical Knowledge: Strong mechanical and electrical skills, plus understanding of control systems, electronic components, and pneumatic/hydraulic systems
• Design Capabilities: Skills to create consumer products, vehicles, machinery, and production systems
• Project Management: Leadership skills and results-driven attitude

Software Engineer

Software engineers rank among Chile’s high paid engineers. They design and maintain complex software systems while focusing on architecture that ensures resilient digital solutions for companies of all sizes.

Salary Range for Software Engineer

Chilean software engineers earn competitive salaries that reflect their specialised skills. Experience and qualifications play a key role in determining compensation:

Experience Level	Salary Range (CLP/year)
Entry level	14,285,980 – 20,584,850
Mid-level (2-5 years)	29,101,725 – 40,129,003
Senior (5+ years)	40,072,230 – 59,081,800

Skill Requirements for Software Engineers

Chilean software engineers need strong technical skills to succeed in the industry:

• Programming Proficiency: Java, Python, C++, and JavaScript are the main requirements. Java and Python lead the demand. Chilean developers show remarkable skills in statistical programming (98%) and computer programming (97%).
• Specialised Knowledge: Database management (SQL, NoSQL) and cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) skills add significant value. Data analysis (96%) and mobile development (78%) skills remain highly sought-after.

Chemical Engineer

Chemical engineering in Chile is a vital economic sector. These High paid engineers transform raw materials into valuable products through innovative processes. These specialised professionals make substantial contributions to industries from pharmaceuticals to manufacturing, creating rewarding career opportunities in the country’s technical workforce.

Salary Range for Chemical Engineer

Chilean chemical engineers earn salaries that match their expertise and market value. Their average annual earnings reach CLP 38,919,854, with hourly rates of CLP 18,711. Entry-level positions start at CLP 26,776,859, while senior roles can reach CLP 47,521,141.

Experience shapes earning potential:

Experience Level	Average Annual Salary (CLP)
1-3 years (Entry)	27,123,475
5-10 years	24,000,900
10+ years	29,161,000
15-20 years	31,800,300
20+ years	34,441,600

Skill Requirements for Chemical Engineering

Chemical engineering in Chile combines technical expertise with innovative thinking. The main competencies employers look for include:

• Problem-solving abilities (86% of employers require this)
• Process development skills (79% of employers value this)
• Computer utilisation proficiency (68% of employers need this)
• Equipment design capabilities (56% of positions require this)

Industrial Engineer

Industrial Engineering is one of the top paying engineering jobs in Chile. Chilean industrial engineers know how to optimise complex systems and boost productivity in the manufacturing and service sectors. They serve as a crucial link between management and technical operations. Their role makes them essential to Chile’s changing industrial world.

Salary Range for Industrial Engineer

Experience Level	Average Annual Salary (CLP)
0-2 years	9,599,200
2-5 years	12,841,200
5-10 years	18,958,500
10-15 years	23,159,200
15-20 years	25,200,800
20+ years	27,241,100

Skill Requirements for Industrial Engineer

Environmental Engineer

Chilean environmental engineers pioneer sustainable development through their work on climate change, pollution control, and resource management. These high paid engineers have a significant growth as the country changes to a circular economy and renewable energy solutions.

Salary Range for Environmental Engineer

Environmental engineers earn competitive salaries that match their expertise in sustainability. Chilean environmental engineers earn CLP 32,026,277 yearly on average with hourly rates reaching CLP 15,397. Experience plays a key role in determining salaries:

Experience Level	Average Annual Salary (CLP)
Entry level (1-3 years)	22,760,282
5-10 years	21,841,900
10-15 years	26,399,200
15-20 years	28,919,800
20+ years	30,479,000

Education levels shape earning potential significantly. Engineers with bachelor’s degrees earn CLP 17,640,500 yearly, while master’s degree holders make CLP 24,478,500. This represents a 39% increase for advanced education.

Male environmental engineers earn 6% more than their female colleagues. Projections show environmental engineers’ salaries will grow by 8% by 2030.

Skill Requirements for Environmental Engineer

Environmental engineers in Chile need a mix of technical expertise and people skills:

• Academic Requirements: A bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering serves as the minimum requirement. Research positions often prefer PhD holders
• Technical Competencies: Engineers must know predictive modeling, AI applications, machine learning, remote sensing, and data science for environmental systems
• Personal Skills: Analysis skills lead the way at 79%, followed by project management at 14%, and specialized software knowledge including MATLAB at 4%
• Language Proficiency: English fluency remains mandatory. Spanish fluency becomes necessary within two years of employment

Chile’s circular economy promises remarkable growth with 100,000 green jobs expected by 2030. New positions will emerge in recycling plants, waste classification, composting services, and ecodesign professional services across the country.

Mechatronics Engineer

Mechatronics engineering is one of the best paid engineering jobs in Chile. It combines mechanical, electrical, and software disciplines into a powerful hybrid field. This combination powers automation and robotics development throughout Chile’s industrial sectors. The field’s interdisciplinary nature gives mechatronics specialists a unique edge in the country’s digital world.

Salary Range for Mechatronics Engineer

Chilean mechatronics engineers earn competitive salaries that match their expertise. The average annual salary reaches CLP 35,174,082 with hourly rates of CLP 16,911. Most engineers earn between CLP 24,199,768 and CLP 42,947,554, based on their experience and location:

Experience Level	Average Annual Salary (CLP)
0-2 years	10,739,300
2-5 years	14,760,200
5-10 years	21,121,400
10-15 years	25,679,100
15-20 years	27,118,300
20+ years	29,519,900

Education plays a key role in determining earnings. Bachelor’s degree holders earn around CLP 14,760,200 yearly. Master’s degree holders earn significantly more at CLP 27,118,300 – this is a big deal as it means an 84% increase with advanced education.

The median salary is CLP 20,999,200, with variations by location. Engineers in Las Condes earn more, with a median of CLP 23,399,000.

Skill Requirements for Mechatronics Engineer

Mechatronics professionals need a broad skill set that spans multiple engineering disciplines:

• System Integration: Knowing how to combine mechanical and electrical hardware with embedded software creates automated systems
• Technical Expertise: Strong background in CAD, robotics, electronics, and mechanical systems integration
• Programming Skills: Expert knowledge in coding and debugging software for electro-mechanical devices
• Analytical Abilities: Experience with test plans, prototypes, design reviews, and system qualification

Comparison Table for Top Paying Engineering Jobs in Chile 2025

The salary figures shown represent projected annual compensation in Chilean Pesos (CLP) for 2025.

Conclusion

Chilean engineers have strong earning potential in specialisations of all types. Petroleum engineers lead with the highest average annual pay at CLP 52,333,978, while chemical engineers earn CLP 38,919,854. New graduates typically start at CLP 9-12 million per year. Senior software engineers can earn up to CLP 59 million annually.

Chile’s engineering job market looks promising, especially in new fields. Software development jobs are expected to grow 12% by 2024. Environmental engineering positions line up with the country’s target of creating 100,000 green jobs by 2030. The mining sector will need 34,000 new workers by 2032.

Engineers in Chile should focus on building digital skills, project management abilities, and technical expertise in their field. These skills, combined with strong analytical thinking and clear communication, help engineers succeed in Chile’s changing technical world.

FAQs

Q1. Which job is top among the highest paying engineering jobs in Chile for 2025? According to salary projections, petroleum engineers are expected to command the highest average annual compensation at CLP 52,333,978 in 2025.

Q2. How much can entry-level engineers expect to earn in Chile? Entry-level engineering positions in Chile typically offer starting salaries between CLP 9 million to CLP 12 million annually, depending on the specific engineering discipline.

Q3. Does having a master’s degree significantly impact a high paid engineer’s salary in Chile? Yes, engineers with master’s degrees can earn 39-84% more than those with bachelor’s degrees across all engineering disciplines in Chile.

Q4. Which top paying engineering jobs are projected to have the most growth in Chile? Software development is expected to grow by 12% by 2024, while environmental engineering aligns with Chile’s goal of creating 100,000 green jobs by 2030. The mining sector also projects demand for 34,000 new workers by 2032.

Q5. What skills are most valued for best paid engineering jobs in Chile? Across engineering disciplines in Chile, the most valued skills include technical expertise in the specific field, project management capabilities, analytical abilities, and strong problem-solving skills. Digital competencies and communication skills are also increasingly important.