Chemists
Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge.
Chemists conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge. The role reports a median annual salary of $84,150 in the US with the middle 80% earning between $46,760 and $141,850 and is projected to grow 5% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a Bachelor's degree, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.46 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Critical Thinking, Science, Active Learning, Reading Comprehension, Complex Problem Solving.
Salary distribution (US)
Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Production and Processing
- Biology
- Engineering and Technology
- Education and Training
A day in the life
You start the morning suiting up in a lab coat and safety goggles, calibrating instruments like mass spectrometers and HPLC machines before running a series of experiments. By mid-morning you are synthesizing a new compound, carefully measuring reagents and monitoring reaction temperatures while documenting every step in a lab notebook. Afternoons might be spent analyzing spectra data, meeting with a product team to troubleshoot why a paint formula is not drying correctly, or writing up results for a peer-reviewed journal. The thrill of chemistry is the detective work—figuring out molecular puzzles that have real-world applications in medicine, materials, and food science.
Frequently asked questions
What does Chemists do?
Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge.
What does a typical day look like in Chemists?
You start the morning suiting up in a lab coat and safety goggles, calibrating instruments like mass spectrometers and HPLC machines before running a series of experiments. By mid-morning you are synthesizing a new compound, carefully measuring reagents and monitoring reaction temperatures while documenting every step in a lab notebook.
How much does Chemists earn?
The median annual salary for Chemists in the US is $84,150. The middle 80% of workers earn between $46,760 and $141,850 annually. Entry-to-mid-career earners typically fall between $62,340 and $111,000.
What is the job outlook for Chemists?
The role is projected to grow 5% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 86,800 workers.
How do I become a chemists?
The typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Chemists need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Critical Thinking, Science, Active Learning, Reading Comprehension, Complex Problem Solving, Mathematics. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Chemists?
Our AI-durability model gives Chemists a score of 0.46 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Chemists has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.
Is Chemists right for you?
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