Chemistry Teachers
O*NET title: Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses pertaining to the chemical and physical properties and compositional changes of substances. Work may include providing instruction in the methods of qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching, and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Also called: Adjunct Chemistry Instructor, Adjunct Chemistry Professor, Adjunct Instructor, Analytical Chemistry Teacher, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor
Median pay
$93,250
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$57,870 – $172,110
People employed
19,980
Holland code
ISR
Investigative · Social · Realistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 2.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 3.Do you prefer working indoors?
- 4.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
- 5.Do you want the same hours every week?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Chemistry Teachers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (47 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What chemistry teachers do
- 01Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and chemical separation.
- 02Establish, teach, and monitor students' compliance with safety rules for handling chemicals, equipment, and other hazardous materials.
- 03Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory performance, assignments, and papers.
- 04Supervise students' laboratory work.
- 05Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- 06Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Learning Strategies
- Critical Thinking
Knowledge
- Chemistry
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Education and Training
- Biology
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Intellectual Curiosity
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a graduate degree (O*NET Job Zone 5).
- Related work experience: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years.
- On-the-job training: none or short demonstration.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from chemistry teachers
- Biochemists and Biophysicists81% · +37%
- Geneticists78% · group pay
- Molecular and Cellular Biologists78% · group pay
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists76% · +11%
- Epidemiologists74% · −6%
Change into chemistry teachers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Geneticists78% · $98,920
- Molecular and Cellular Biologists78% · $98,920
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists76% · $103,410
- Preventive Medicine Physicians75% · $265,930
- Epidemiologists74% · $87,220
Majors that lead here
- Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education
- Chemistry Teacher Education
- Chemistry, General
- Analytical Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Physical Chemistry
- Polymer Chemistry
- Chemical Physics
- Environmental Chemistry
- Forensic Chemistry
- Theoretical Chemistry
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.