[caw]

A lot of jobs have a lot of backstabbing and work politics. It's really about the company you join and its culture, and to some extent the team.

ChemE is pretty desirable, either in production plants or R&D. You're not always out in a backwater town--I believe the term is "near population centers." Sure you might have a 30 minute commute, but you get paid pretty well. I have ChemE friends working in Texas (multiple cities), Greenville (SC), Michigan (forget which city), and Baton Rouge (LA).

You could also work on an oil rig and do a rotation. They pay pretty highly, then you get a bunch of time off.

Regarding the salaries -- Yes 60K for a bachelor's was my school's average B.S. starting salary.