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Chemical Technicians
Conduct chemical and physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative and quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, and gaseous materials for research and development of new products or processes, quality control, maintenance of environmental standards, and other work involving experimental, theoretical, or practical application of chemistry and related sciences.
Other titles employers use
Analytical Laboratory Technician (Analytical Lab Technician) · Chemical Analyst · Chemical Technician · Laboratory Analyst (Lab Analyst) · Laboratory Technician (Lab Tech) · Laboratory Tester (Lab Tester) · Organic Preparation Analyst (Organic Prep Analyst) · Quality Control Laboratory Technician (QC Lab Tech)
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Conduct chemical or physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative or quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, or gaseous materials.
- Maintain, clean, or sterilize laboratory instruments or equipment.
- Monitor product quality to ensure compliance with standards and specifications.
- Set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses, using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, or microscopy.
- Prepare chemical solutions for products or processes, following standardized formulas, or create experimental formulas.
- Compile and interpret results of tests and analyses.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to analytical, practical and organizing work.
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Science
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Monitoring
Subjects to know
- Chemistry
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Computers and Electronics
Useful strengths
- Written Comprehension
- Near Vision
- Written Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.0 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 3.7 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 5.0 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 4.0 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for an associate degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A four-year degree 44%
- High school or less 33%
- A certificate or some college 22%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Object or component oriented development software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Electronic mail software
- Operating system software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Presentation software
- Word processing software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 8,400
- Job openings each year
- 990
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 7.7%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 8,400 | 990 | 7.7% |
| Texas | 6,020 | 720 | 10.5% |
| New Jersey | 4,380 | 510 | 5.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 3,740 | 440 | 3.6% |
| New York | 2,700 | 0 | 1.1% |
| Florida | 2,160 | 260 | 10.8% |
| Ohio | 2,130 | 250 | 2.9% |
| North Carolina | 2,120 | 250 | 6.5% |
| Louisiana | 1,770 | 210 | 10.6% |
| Tennessee | 1,720 | 200 | 10.3% |
| South Carolina | 1,670 | 200 | 7.1% |
| Michigan | 1,650 | 190 | 4.4% |
| Alabama | 1,540 | 180 | 4.1% |
| Colorado | 1,540 | 190 | 15.8% |
| Illinois | 1,400 | 160 | 4.5% |
| Washington | 1,340 | 180 | 15.5% |
| Indiana | 1,280 | 150 | 4.9% |
| Maryland | 1,270 | 150 | 11.4% |
| Utah | 1,200 | 150 | 31.9% |
| Wisconsin | 1,160 | 140 | 18.4% |
| Minnesota | 1,130 | 130 | 7.6% |
| Georgia | 1,040 | 120 | 8.3% |
| Puerto Rico | 910 | 110 | 7.1% |
| Nevada | 710 | 80 | 14.5% |
| Oklahoma | 710 | 80 | 4.4% |
| Connecticut | 680 | 80 | 7.9% |
| Kentucky | 680 | 80 | 3.0% |
| Massachusetts | 680 | 80 | 1.5% |
| Arizona | 650 | 80 | 12.1% |
| Iowa | 650 | 80 | 10.2% |
| Virginia | 640 | 70 | 1.6% |
| Arkansas | 610 | 70 | 8.9% |
| Idaho | 600 | 70 | 15.4% |
| Missouri | 590 | 70 | 7.3% |
| Mississippi | 580 | 70 | 7.4% |
| Nebraska | 500 | 60 | 8.7% |
| Delaware | 460 | 60 | 2.2% |
| Kansas | 390 | 50 | 2.6% |
| Oregon | 380 | 50 | 15.2% |
| Wyoming | 280 | 30 | 12.0% |
| Rhode Island | 240 | 30 | — |
| West Virginia | 220 | 30 | 10.0% |
| Montana | 190 | 20 | 18.8% |
| Alaska | 180 | 20 | 5.9% |
| New Hampshire | 170 | 20 | 6.3% |
| New Mexico | 150 | 20 | 15.4% |
| Vermont | 90 | 10 | — |
| Maine | 80 | 10 | — |
| South Dakota | 80 | 10 | — |
| North Dakota | 60 | 10 | 20.0% |
| District of Columbia | 50 | 10 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
University of California-San Diego
- Degrees each year
- 227
- Admit rate
- 25%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
University of Florida
- Degrees each year
- 163
- Admit rate
- 24%
- Annual cost after aid
- $7,000
University of California-Berkeley
- Degrees each year
- 129
- Admit rate
- 12%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Degrees each year
- 121
- Admit rate
- 44%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
CUNY Hunter College
- Degrees each year
- 118
- Admit rate
- 54%
- Annual cost after aid
- $6,000
University of California-Irvine
- Degrees each year
- 117
- Admit rate
- 26%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Degrees each year
- 115
- Admit rate
- 19%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
University of California-Santa Barbara
- Degrees each year
- 114
- Admit rate
- 28%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000