Jobs Similar to Chemists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to chemists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Chemical Technicians, Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians and Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians.
Chemists: $91,240 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
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. Chemists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chemical Technicians | 80% | $60,390−34% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 75% | $59,920−34% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 75% | $66,120Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Quality Control Analysts | 75% | $62,280Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 5 | Materials ScientistsSame group | 75% | $117,790+29% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Non-Destructive Testing Specialists | 74% | $78,350Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 7 | Biological Technicians | 74% | $57,510−37% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Food Scientists and Technologists | 74% | $88,720−3% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Fuel Cell Engineers | 74% | $104,110Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Nanosystems Engineers | 74% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Biochemists and Biophysicists | 73% | $127,410+40% | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 73% | $171,270Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Food Science Technicians | 73% | $52,130−43% | Training or associate |
| 14 | Validation Engineers | 73% | $102,440Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 73% | $74,510−18% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Nuclear Monitoring Technicians | 73% | $110,240Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 17 | Microsystems Engineers | 72% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 18 | Nuclear Engineers | 72% | $133,970+47% | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | 72% | $82,890−9% | Training or associate |
| 20 | HydrologistsSame group | 72% | $96,600+6% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Chemical Technicians
80% similar · $60,390 (−34%) · Training or associate
- 2Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
75% similar · $59,920 (−34%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians
75% similar · $66,120 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Quality Control Analysts
75% similar · $62,280 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 5Materials Scientists
75% similar · $117,790 (+29%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
74% similar · $78,350 (broader group) · High school
- 7Biological Technicians
74% similar · $57,510 (−37%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Food Scientists and Technologists
74% similar · $88,720 (−3%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Fuel Cell Engineers
74% similar · $104,110 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Nanosystems Engineers
74% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 11Biochemists and Biophysicists
73% similar · $127,410 (+40%) · Graduate degree
- 12Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
73% similar · $171,270 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Food Science Technicians
73% similar · $52,130 (−43%) · Training or associate
- 14Validation Engineers
73% similar · $102,440 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
73% similar · $74,510 (−18%) · Training or associate
- 16Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
73% similar · $110,240 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 17Microsystems Engineers
72% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 18Nuclear Engineers
72% similar · $133,970 (+47%) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
72% similar · $82,890 (−9%) · Training or associate
- 20Hydrologists
72% similar · $96,600 (+6%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
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 chemists.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Chemical Technicians80% similar · Training or associate
- Quality Control Analysts75% similar · Training or associate
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists74% similar · High school
- Food Science Technicians73% similar · Training or associate
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians73% similar · Training or associate
- Nuclear Monitoring Technicians73% similar · Training or associate
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for chemists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where chemists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Chemical Technicians (85)
- Food Scientists and Technologists (84)
- Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians (82)
- Biological Technicians (78)
- Nanosystems Engineers (78)
- Microbiologists (77)
- Quality Control Analysts (77)
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians (75)
- Fuel Cell Engineers (74)
- Quality Control Systems Managers (74)
Questions about jobs like chemists
What jobs are most similar to chemists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Chemical Technicians (80% similar), Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians (75% similar), Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians (75% similar), Quality Control Analysts (75% similar) and Materials Scientists (75% similar).
Which jobs like chemists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Nuclear Engineers ($133,970, +47%; usually a bachelor's degree), Biochemists and Biophysicists ($127,410, +40%; usually a graduate degree) and Materials Scientists ($117,790, +29%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with chemists ($91,240). Without more preparation than chemists usually need: Nuclear Engineers, Materials Scientists and Hydrologists.
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.