Chemists build complex problem solving, judgment and decision making and quality control analysis skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Food Scientists and Technologists (81%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Food Scientists and Technologists | 81% | $88,720 | −3% | None |
| 2 | Chemical Engineers | 80% | $125,040 | +37% | None |
| 3 | Microbiologists | 80% | $87,990 | −4% | None |
| 4 | Materials Engineers | 79% | $112,860 | +24% | None |
| 5 | Biochemists and Biophysicists | 78% | $127,410 | +40% | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Industrial Engineers | 74% | $102,440 | +12% | None |
| 7 | Fuel Cell Engineers | 74% | $104,110Pay for the broader BLS group “Mechanical Engineers” | Not compared | None |
| 8 | Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 73% | $171,270Pay for the broader BLS group “Architectural and Engineering Managers” | Not compared | None |
| 9 | Validation Engineers | 73% | $102,440Pay for the broader BLS group “Industrial Engineers” | Not compared | None |
| 10 | Nanosystems Engineers | 73% | $122,930Pay for the broader BLS group “Engineers, All Other” | Not compared | Graduate degree |
Compared with Chemists, median $91,240. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as chemists (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
81% skill match · $88,720 · −3% pay
Negotiation · Judgment and Decision Making · Persuasion
80% skill match · $125,040 · +37% pay
Technology Design · Operations Analysis · Systems Analysis
80% skill match · $87,990 · −4% pay
Judgment and Decision Making · Service Orientation · Negotiation
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Food Scientists and Technologists (81% skill match, median $88,720), Chemical Engineers (80% skill match, median $125,040) and Microbiologists (80% skill match, median $87,990), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 12 pay more than chemists at the median. The biggest increases: Computer Hardware Engineers (+77%, $161,740), Nuclear Engineers (+47%, $133,970) and Electronics Engineers, Except Computer (+43%, $130,220).
22 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones. 3 usually need a graduate degree: Biochemists and Biophysicists, Nanosystems Engineers and Microsystems Engineers.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.