Stamford Bridge side failed to overcome dogged Bundesliga opposition.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho opted to make a number of changes from the side he has used to such great effect in the opening four Premier League fixtures of the season.
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Didier Drogba and Felipe Luis came in for Cesar Azpilicueta and Diego Costa but arguably neither player covered themselves in glory.
Things looked to be going just swimmingly when Eden Hazard, who is set to be offered a lucrative new contract, superbly combined with Cesc Fabregas who scored his first Chelsea with a confident finish after 11 minutes.
Chelsea has plenty of the play in the first half but simply could not make possession and Fabregas and Drogba both missing fairly easy chances to double their lead.
Schalke took more of the initiative in the second half and deserved leveled just after the hour.
Cesc Fabregas, who had an up and down time of it, lost possession and Schalke broke away with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar calmly slotting home a leveler.
Both sides had chances to win it but arguably a draw was a fair result and one that will certainly please Schalke boss Jens Keller will be the happier of the two managers at Stamford Bridge.