Jobs Similar to Chemical Technicians
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to chemical technicians, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Chemists, Non-Destructive Testing Specialists and Quality Control Analysts.
Chemical Technicians: $60,390 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Chemical Technicians) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chemists | 80% | $91,240+51% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Non-Destructive Testing Specialists | 78% | $78,350Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 3 | Quality Control AnalystsSame group | 77% | $62,280Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 4 | Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 77% | $59,920−1% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 77% | $66,120Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 76% | $74,510+23% | Training or associate |
| 7 | Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic TechniciansSame group | 76% | $53,350−12% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Biomass Plant Technicians | 75% | $102,040Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 9 | Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | 75% | $82,890+37% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Nuclear TechniciansSame group | 75% | $110,240+83% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | 74% | $58,040−4% | High school |
| 12 | Biological TechniciansSame group | 74% | $57,510−5% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | 73% | $48,570−20% | High school |
| 14 | Biofuels Processing Technicians | 73% | $62,470Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 15 | Nuclear Monitoring TechniciansSame group | 73% | $110,240Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 16 | Aviation Inspectors | 72% | $92,100Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 17 | Gas Plant Operators | 72% | $87,820+45% | High school |
| 18 | Automotive Engineering Technicians | 72% | $74,510Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 19 | Chemical Plant and System Operators | 71% | $78,120+29% | High school |
| 20 | Semiconductor Processing Technicians | 70% | $51,430−15% | High school |
- 1Chemists
80% similar · $91,240 (+51%) · Bachelor's degree
- 2Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
78% similar · $78,350 (broader group) · High school
- 3Quality Control Analysts
77% similar · $62,280 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 4Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
77% similar · $59,920 (−1%) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians
77% similar · $66,120 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
76% similar · $74,510 (+23%) · Training or associate
- 7Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians
76% similar · $53,350 (−12%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 8Biomass Plant Technicians
75% similar · $102,040 (broader group) · High school
- 9Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
75% similar · $82,890 (+37%) · Training or associate
- 10Nuclear Technicians
75% similar · $110,240 (+83%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 11Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders
74% similar · $58,040 (−4%) · High school
- 12Biological Technicians
74% similar · $57,510 (−5%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 13Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
73% similar · $48,570 (−20%) · High school
- 14Biofuels Processing Technicians
73% similar · $62,470 (broader group) · High school
- 15Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
73% similar · $110,240 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 16Aviation Inspectors
72% similar · $92,100 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 17Gas Plant Operators
72% similar · $87,820 (+45%) · High school
- 18Automotive Engineering Technicians
72% similar · $74,510 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 19Chemical Plant and System Operators
71% similar · $78,120 (+29%) · High school
- 20Semiconductor Processing Technicians
70% similar · $51,430 (−15%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than chemical technicians.
- Nuclear Technicians75% similar · $110,240 (+83%)
- Gas Plant Operators72% similar · $87,820 (+45%)
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians75% similar · $82,890 (+37%)
- Chemical Plant and System Operators71% similar · $78,120 (+29%)
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians76% similar · $74,510 (+23%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists78% similar · High school
- Biomass Plant Technicians75% similar · High school
- Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders74% similar · High school
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers73% similar · High school
- Biofuels Processing Technicians73% similar · High school
- Gas Plant Operators72% similar · High school
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for chemical technicians also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where chemical technicians is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians (84)
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists (80)
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians (74)
- Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders (73)
- Aviation Inspectors (72)
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians (70)
- Prepress Technicians and Workers (68)
- Fuel Cell Engineers (66)
- Neurodiagnostic Technologists (64)
- Photonics Engineers (63)
Questions about jobs like chemical technicians
What jobs are most similar to chemical technicians?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Chemists (80% similar), Non-Destructive Testing Specialists (78% similar), Quality Control Analysts (77% similar), Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians (77% similar) and Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians (77% similar).
Which jobs like chemical technicians pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Nuclear Technicians ($110,240, +83%; usually training or an associate degree), Chemists ($91,240, +51%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Gas Plant Operators ($87,820, +45%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with chemical technicians ($60,390). Without more preparation than chemical technicians usually need: Nuclear Technicians, Gas Plant Operators and Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.