Chemists
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Most of the work happens in a laboratory: analyzing organic or inorganic compounds with techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, or spectrophotometry, and inducing changes with heat, light, energy, or chemical catalysts. Days also include developing or customizing products, formulas, processes, or analytical methods, running quality-control tests, and preparing test solutions and reagents. Instruments have to be kept in working order, and test results are compiled to judge how well a process or piece of equipment is performing. Technical papers, reports, and specifications are written for processes, facilities, products, or tests. Suits people who like careful, hands-on lab work, methodical testing, and turning measurements into clear written findings.
Typical education: Bachelor’s Degree (4-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$91'240
Median Wage Market Position
$91'240
What you might do
- Determine the makeup and properties of compounds
- Improve products, formulas, equipment, or methods
- Treat substances with heat, light, or catalysts
- Carry out quality control tests on samples
- Keep laboratory instruments in working order
- Draft technical reports and process specifications
Skills that matter
- Analyzing compounds with chromatography
- Improving formulas and chemical processes
- Running quality-control tests on products
- Preparing reagents for laboratory tests
- Troubleshooting laboratory instrument problems
- Writing technical papers and process standards
AI & the future of this role
Analytical modeling and results interpretation may increasingly lean on automated systems. Hands-on lab work, safety accountability, and product or process judgment still protect substantial parts of chemical practice.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details