In layman's term, A chemical engineer is a guy that helps in the production of things on a large scale. He is one which studies a process, design plant, and equipment and also runs the plant. As you see I have divided work into three broad categories and the job conditions are different for these. Let us tackle them one by one-

Research - You will find many chemical engineers involve in research. These are the guys that study processes and try to find out the best way to produce a thing on a large level, both safely and economically. They also try to improve existing processes.Some of the guys also work in hardcore science like ionic chemistry (battery etc.) , nanotechnology, biotechnology (yup chemical engineers have really very wide options when it comes to research.) If you have an interest in computational science then you may do research in fluid dynamics etc.

If you want to go in research field then you have to do MS/M.Tech and then Ph.D. It will take around 9-10 years after class 12. People usually prefer doing Ph.D. abroad as research facilities are not good in India.

After your Ph.D. either you can do research in a university or you can join R&D department of a company. If you want to be a scientist I will suggest you go to the US as they have better-working conditions and good pay scale.Working hours will be like usual office hours. If you join a university you will have flexible working hours and you can work as you like.

Designing - If you have an interest in design you can opt for these type of jobs. These companies usually design a process and related equipment. They also design plants. Some of the companies include - Engineers India Limited (EIL), Flour, KBR, Shell etc. You can join these companies after your graduation. It's a normal office like work i.e. 9-5 job. EIL usually give 8.5 lakhs/annum to freshers. Other companies also give handsome salaries. Job conditions are good and if you like challenging stuff this is the best job for you. The companies in this field are usually MNC's so its highly probable that you will get exposure to various countries and industries.

Production- These companies are involved in the production of materials on large scales. These includes fertilizers,petroleum, pharmaceuticals, etc. There are many companies in this field like ONGC,IOCL,BPCL,HPCL,GAIL,HUL,Proctor andGamble,Reliance,Cairn,Tata Chemicals,RCF,Asian Paints etc. You have various options to choose from. Petrochemical companies usually pay very handsomely. BPCL pays around 11.5 lakhs/annum in Mumbai to freshers, which is quite high for a government job. The engineers in this field are highest paid. If you plan to go abroad you will even get higher pays and there are many companies out there like Schlumberger, BP, Chevron, Exxon Mobil etc. The working condition is a little bit hard in this field as you have to work in plant or rig etc. Usually, these are located outside of the city and sometimes even in mid of sea. You can join these companies after graduation. Working hours are not flexible and you have to be ready for overtime as emergencies may occur at any time.

Although the majority of people opt for a job after graduation. It is recommended to go for MS as it increases your skills.