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Chemists

Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge.

Watch this work See majors and colleges
Other titles employers use

Air Quality Chemist · Analytical Chemist · Chemical Lab Scientist (Chemical Laboratory Scientist) · Chemist · Forensic Chemist · Product Development Chemist · QC Chemist (Quality Control Chemist) · R and D Chemist (Research and Development Chemist)

Inside the work

What you would actually do.

6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.

  • Develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods.
  • Analyze organic or inorganic compounds to determine chemical or physical properties, composition, structure, relationships, or reactions, using chromatography, spectroscopy, or spectrophotometry techniques.
  • Induce changes in composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy, or chemical catalysts for quantitative or qualitative analysis.
  • Conduct quality control tests.
  • Write technical papers or reports or prepare standards and specifications for processes, facilities, products, or tests.
  • Maintain laboratory instruments to ensure proper working order and troubleshoot malfunctions when needed.

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
  • Speaking
  • Active Listening
  • Writing

Subjects to know

  • Chemistry
  • English Language
  • Mathematics
  • Production and Processing
  • Administration and Management

Useful strengths

  • Oral Comprehension
  • Written Comprehension
  • Oral Expression
  • Written Expression
  • Deductive Reasoning

Working day

Picture yourself doing it.

These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.

How this job scores on four measures of working conditions, out of five
MeasureOut of 5What that means here
Close to other people3.1 Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder
On your feet2.9 Mostly seated
Talking face to face4.7 Continuous — the job is conversations
Working with your hands2.6 Little of the day

Preparation

How people prepare for this work.

Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.

  • A four-year degree 56%
  • A doctorate or professional degree 30%
  • A master's degree 14%

Tools of the work

Technology you may use.

  • Object or component oriented development software
  • Data base user interface and query software
  • Development environment software
  • Office suite software
  • Presentation software
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Word processing software
  • Enterprise application integration 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.

Selected stateCalifornia
People doing this work
11,000
Job openings each year
810
Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
10.0%
Compare every available state
State People doing it Job openings each year Expected change
California 11,000 810 10.0%
New Jersey 7,390 540 9.0%
Pennsylvania 5,640 400 6.2%
North Carolina 5,120 390 15.3%
New York 3,830 10 2.4%
Michigan 3,690 270 7.3%
Texas 3,690 280 12.5%
Ohio 3,650 260 5.2%
Illinois 3,400 250 9.0%
Maryland 3,360 240 7.0%
Missouri 2,340 180 12.5%
Washington 2,250 220 20.3%
Florida 2,170 160 14.8%
Colorado 2,150 170 16.8%
Wisconsin 2,150 170 21.5%
Minnesota 2,110 150 7.7%
Indiana 2,040 150 10.3%
South Carolina 1,630 120 14.8%
Massachusetts 1,530 110 5.5%
Georgia 1,480 110 10.4%
Virginia 1,470 100 4.3%
Puerto Rico 1,210 90 11.0%
Delaware 1,160 80 1.8%
Connecticut 1,150 80 7.5%
Arizona 920 70 15.0%
Oregon 900 70 18.4%
Alabama 850 60 7.6%
Utah 850 70 23.2%
Tennessee 810 60 17.4%
Kansas 790 60 9.7%
Iowa 740 60 15.6%
Oklahoma 600 40 5.3%
Louisiana 580 40 11.5%
Kentucky 460 30 7.0%
Arkansas 420 30 7.7%
Idaho 400 30 14.3%
District of Columbia 350 20 −2.8%
Nebraska 310 20 6.9%
West Virginia 310 20 10.7%
Maine 300 20 —
Mississippi 230 20 9.5%
New Hampshire 230 20 9.5%
Montana 200 20 17.6%
Nevada 200 20 11.1%
New Mexico 180 10 12.5%
North Dakota 170 10 13.3%
Rhode Island 140 10 —
Wyoming 140 10 16.7%
South Dakota 130 10 8.3%
Vermont 80 10 14.3%
Alaska 60 10 —
Virgin Islands 10 0 —

Career to college

Build a path toward this work.

Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.

CareerChemists
Most direct field Chemistry Related field Materials Sciences Related field Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration

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.

CA

University of California-San Diego

Degrees each year
227
Admit rate
25%
Annual cost after aid
$10,000
Open college FL

University of Florida

Degrees each year
163
Admit rate
24%
Annual cost after aid
$7,000
Open college CA

University of California-Berkeley

Degrees each year
157
Admit rate
12%
Annual cost after aid
$10,000
Open college CA

University of California-Irvine

Degrees each year
233
Admit rate
26%
Annual cost after aid
$12,000
Open college IL

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Degrees each year
121
Admit rate
44%
Annual cost after aid
$8,000
Open college NY

CUNY Hunter College

Degrees each year
118
Admit rate
54%
Annual cost after aid
$6,000
Open college NC

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Degrees each year
115
Admit rate
19%
Annual cost after aid
$9,000
Open college CA

University of California-Santa Barbara

Degrees each year
114
Admit rate
28%
Annual cost after aid
$13,000
Open college

Compare every college offering chemistry

Keep exploring

Careers with something in common.

Compare paths that use similar training and strengths.

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