Chemical technicians
Conduct chemical and physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative and quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, and gaseous materials for research and development of new products or processes, quality control, maintenance of environmental standards, and other work involving experimental, theoretical, or practical application of chemistry and related sciences.
Chemical technicians conduct chemical and physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative and quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, and gaseous materials for research and development of new products or processes, quality control, maintenance of environment. The role reports a median annual salary of $57,790 in the US and is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a Associate's degree, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.55 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include non-ferrous metal processing, precious metals, metal and metal ore products, chemical technologies in metal manufacture, alloys of precious metals.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £28,210 a year for Laboratory technicians (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £24,975 to £34,028 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 3111). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Technicians and associate professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Chemical technicians, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 3. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Chemistry
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Computers and Electronics
- Production and Processing
- Administrative
- Education and Training
- Customer and Personal Service
A day in the life
You start the morning preparing chemical solutions for the day's tests, measuring carefully according to the standard formulas. You set up the chromatography instrument and run samples from the production line to check their purity and composition. Mid-morning you compare the results against the specifications and alert the chemist when one batch falls short. After lunch you mix and test a new experimental formula for an engineer who is trying to improve a coating, recording every observation in detail. Later you compile the day's results into a report and clean and sterilise the glassware and instruments. You also attend a short safety committee meeting to discuss how to handle a new hazardous material. The cleaning and routine testing can feel repetitive. But catching a faulty batch before it reaches customers, or seeing an experiment point the way to a better product, makes the careful work worthwhile.
Illustrative: one typical day, written from the O*NET task statements for this occupation. Real days vary by employer and seniority.
What you'd actually do
- Conduct chemical or physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative or quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, or gaseous materials.
- Maintain, clean, or sterilize laboratory instruments or equipment.
- Monitor product quality to ensure compliance with standards and specifications.
- Set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses, using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, or microscopy.
- Prepare chemical solutions for products or processes, following standardized formulas, or create experimental formulas.
- Compile and interpret results of tests and analyses.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Chemical technicians do?
Conduct chemical and physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative and quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, and gaseous materials for research and development of new products or processes, quality control, maintenance of environmental standards, and other work involving experimental, theoretical, or practical application of chemistry and related sciences.
What does a typical day look like in Chemical technicians?
You start the morning preparing chemical solutions for the day's tests, measuring carefully according to the standard formulas. You set up the chromatography instrument and run samples from the production line to check their purity and composition. Mid-morning you compare the results against the specifications and alert the chemist when one batch falls short.
How much does Chemical technicians earn?
The median annual salary for Chemical technicians in the US is $57,790.
What is the job outlook for Chemical technicians?
The role is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 57,000 workers.
How do I become chemical technicians?
The typical entry education is a Associate's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Chemical technicians need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include non-ferrous metal processing, precious metals, metal and metal ore products, chemical technologies in metal manufacture, alloys of precious metals, ferrous metal processing. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Chemical technicians?
Our AI-durability model gives Chemical technicians a score of 0.55 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?
Chemical technicians has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.