Chemists
Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge.
Also called: Agricultural Chemist, Air Quality Chemist, Analytical Chemist, Analytical Scientist, Assay Development Scientist, Astrochemist
Median pay
$91,240
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$58,460 – $160,830
People employed
82,770
Holland code
IRC
Investigative · Realistic · Conventional
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 happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 2.Do you prefer working indoors?
- 3.Do you want the same hours every week?
- 4.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Exposure to hazardous conditions
Chemists pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What chemists do
- 01Develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods.
- 02Analyze organic or inorganic compounds to determine chemical or physical properties, composition, structure, relationships, or reactions, using chromatography, spectroscopy, or spectrophotometry techniques.
- 03Induce changes in composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy, or chemical catalysts for quantitative or qualitative analysis.
- 04Conduct quality control tests.
- 05Write technical papers or reports or prepare standards and specifications for processes, facilities, products, or tests.
- 06Maintain laboratory instruments to ensure proper working order and troubleshoot malfunctions when needed.
Skills that matter most
- Science
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Writing
- Mathematics
Knowledge
- Chemistry
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Production and Processing
- Administration and Management
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 bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
- Related work experience: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
- A certification can help.
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 chemists
- Food Scientists and Technologists81% · −3%
- Chemical Engineers80% · +37%
- Microbiologists80% · −4%
- Materials Engineers79% · +24%
- Biochemists and Biophysicists78% · +40%
Change into chemists
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Chemical Technicians85% · $60,390
- Food Scientists and Technologists84% · $88,720
- Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians82% · $66,120
- Biological Technicians78% · $57,510
- Nanosystems Engineers78% · $122,930
Majors that lead here
- Chemistry, General
- Analytical Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Physical Chemistry
- Polymer Chemistry
- Chemical Physics
- Environmental Chemistry
- Forensic Chemistry
- Theoretical Chemistry
- Cheminformatics/Chemistry Informatics
- Chemistry, Other
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.