Chemists

Career Overview

Chemists study substances and how they react, change, and interact with one another. They conduct experiments, analyze materials, and develop or improve products and processes in areas such as pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, food, energy, and environmental protection. Modern chemists use advanced laboratory instruments, computer-based analysis, and scientific data to solve problems and develop new materials and products.

Education

A bachelor's degree in chemistry, biochemistry, or a related field is typically required. A master's degree or Ph.D. is often needed for research positions, advanced scientific work, or university careers. Laboratory experience, research skills, and knowledge of specialized analytical techniques can also be valuable.

Work Environment

Chemists work in laboratories, research facilities, manufacturing plants, pharmaceutical companies, environmental organizations, government agencies, and universities. Their work may involve laboratory experiments, testing samples, analyzing results, developing products, and working with other scientists and engineers. Some chemists specialize in areas such as pharmaceuticals, forensic science, environmental chemistry, materials, or quality control

Future Outlook

Chemists will continue to be involved in developing new medicines, materials, cleaner manufacturing processes, food-safety methods, and environmental solutions. The field is also becoming more data-driven, with advanced analytical instruments and computer tools helping chemists test materials and understand complex chemical processes.

Recommended High School Courses

Chemistry
Biology
Math
Computer Science
Physics
Science
Environmental Science

Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Equipment Maintenance - Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Number Facility - The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
Perceptual Speed - The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Visual Color Discrimination - The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Analyze chemical compounds or substances.
Test quality of materials or finished products.
Maintain laboratory or technical equipment.
Prepare compounds or solutions for products or testing.
Monitor operational procedures in technical environments to ensure conformance to standards.
Establish standards for products, processes, or procedures.
Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
Collaborate on research activities with scientists or technical specialists.
Develop new or advanced products or production methods.
Supervise scientific or technical personnel.
Manage scientific or technical project resources.
Research methods to improve food products.

Schools

Abilene Christian Univers...

Adams State University

Adelphi University

Agnes Scott College

Albion College

Albright College

Allegheny College

Alvernia University

American International Co...

American University

Amherst College

Angelo State University

Antioch College

Appalachian State Univers...

Arcadia University

Arizona State University

Arkansas Tech University

Asbury University

Assumption College

Auburn University

Augustana University

Austin College

Ave Maria University

Azusa Pacific University

Ball State University

Bard College

Barnard College

Bates College

Baylor University

Belmont University

Beloit College

Bemidji State University

Berea College

Bethany College- Lindsbor...

Bethel University

Bethel University (indian...

Biola University

Birmingham Southern Colle...

Bluefield College

Bob Jones University

Boise State University

Boston College

Boston University

Bowdoin College

Bowling Green State Unive...

Bradley University

Brandeis University

Brescia University

Bryn Mawr College

Cal Poly Pomona

California Institute Of T...

Campellsville University

Carlow University

Carnegie Mellon Universit...

Carroll College

Central New Mexico Commun...

Central Washington Univer...

Christopher Newport Unive...

Claremont Mckenna College

Clark University

Clarkson University

Coastal Carolina Universi...

Colby Community College

Colgate University

College Of New Jersey

College Of St. Benedict A...

College Of The Holy Cross

College Of William And Ma...

Colorado School Of Mines

Columbia University - Ny...

Columbus State Community...

Community College Of Alle...

Concordia University- Tex...

Cooper Union

D’youville College

Dartmouth College

Davidson College

Delaware State University

Delaware Technical And Co...

Denison University

Depauw University

Desales University

Diablo Valley College

Dickinson College

Dominican University

Dominican University Of C...

Drew University

Drexel University

Drury University

Duke University

Earlham College

East Carolina University

East Central University -...

East Stroudsburg Universi...

Eastern Illinois Universi...

Eastern Kentucky Universi...

Eastern New Mexico Univer...

Eastern Washington Univer...

Eckerd College

Edinboro University

El Centro College- Dallas...

Elmhurst College

Emory University

Emporia State University

Evangel University

Everett Community College

Fairleigh Dickinson Unive...

Fairmont State University

Fayetteville State Univer...

Ferris State University

Fisk University

Florida Agricultural And...

Florida Atlantic Universi...

Florida Gulf Coast Univer...

Florida Institute Of Tech...

Florida International Uni...

Florida State University

Fort Valley State Univers...

Framingham State Universi...

Franciscan University At...

Fresno Pacific University...

Friends University

Furman University

George Washington Univers...

Georgetown College

Georgia State University

Gettysburg College

Grinnell College

Grove City College

Gustavus Adolphus College

Hamilton College

Hampden-sydney College

Harvard University

Harvey Mudd College

Haverford College

Hillsdale College

Hiram College

Hobart And William Smith...

Hope College

Howard University

Illinois Institute Of Tec...

Illinois Wesleyan Univers...

Indiana University-purdue...

Jacksonville State Univer...

Johns Hopkins University

Judson College

Kalamazoo College

Kentucky Wesleyan College

Kenyon College

King University

Lafayette College

Lakeland University

Lasalle University

Lawrence University

Lewis And Clark State Col...

Lewis University

Linfield College

Lock Haven University

Louisiana State Universit...

Loyola University - Chica...

Macalester College

Mansfield University Of P...

Marietta College

Marlboro College

Marshall University

Massachusetts Institute O...

Miami University - Oxford...

Millsaps College

Minnesota State Universit...

Minot State University

Misericordia University

Missisippi State Universi...

Montclair State Universit...

Morehouse College

Morningside College

Mount Holyoke College

Mount Mercy University

Murray State University

Navarro College- Corsican...

New College Of Florida

New Mexico Institute Of M...

New York University

North Carolina Central Un...

Northern Illinois Univers...

Northern State University

Northwestern University-...

Norwich University

Notre Dame University Of...

Oberlin College

Occidental College

Ohio Northern University

Ohio Wesleyan University

Oklahoma Christian Univer...

Old Dominion University

Our Lady Of The Lake Univ...

Pennsylvania State Univer...

Pfeiffer University

Pittsburg State Universit...

Pitzer College

Pomona College

Portland State University

Princeton University

Queens University- Charlo...

Randolph College

Reed College

Rensselaer Polytechnic In...

Rhodes College

Rice University

Ripon College

Roberts Wesleyan College

Rockefeller University

Rollins College

Rose-hulman Institute Of...

Sacred Heart University

Saint Joseph's College -...

Saint Michael's College

Saint Olaf College

Salem College

Salisbury University

Salve Regina University

Sam Houston State Univers...

San Diego State Universit...

San Jose State University

Sarah Lawrence College

Scripps Research Institut...

Seton Hall University

Siena College

Skidmore College

Smith College

Sonoma State University

South Dakota State Univer...

Southern Adventist Univer...

Southern Arkansas Univers...

Southern University And A...

Southwestern College- Mai...

Southwestern University

Spelman College

St. Bonaventure Universit...

St. John's University- Qu...

St. Lawrence University

St. Mary's College Of Mar...

Stanford University

Stephen F. Austin State U...

Sterling College

Stonehill College

Suny At Albany

Suny At Geneseo

Suny At Old Westbury

Suny At Oswego

Suny At Potsdam

Suny At Purchase

Suny College Of Environme...

Suny Plattsburgh

Susquehanna University

Swarthmore College

Sweet Briar College

Tabor College

Texas A & M University- C...

Texas A & M University- K...

Texas Tech University

The University Of The Sou...

Transylvania University

Trevecca Nazarene Univers...

Trinity College- Hartford...

Trinity University- San A...

Union College- New York

Union University

United States Air Force A...

United States Military Ac...

United States Naval Acade...

University Of Alabama- Tu...

University Of Alaska Anch...

University Of Arkansas- F...

University Of California-...

University Of Chicago

University Of Colorado- C...

University Of Dallas

University Of Denver

University Of Houston

University Of Houston- Do...

University Of Kentucky

University Of La Verne

University Of Mary Washin...

University Of Massachuset...

University Of Minnesota-...

University Of Missouri- K...

University Of Missouri- S...

University Of Mount Olive

University Of North Carol...

University Of North Texas

University Of Pennsylvani...

University Of Pittsburgh-...

University Of Puget Sound

University Of Redlands

University Of Rhode Islan...

University Of Richmond

University Of Rochester

University Of Saint Franc...

University Of San Francis...

University Of Scranton

University Of South Carol...

University Of Southern Mi...

University Of St. Thomas

University Of Tampa

University Of Texas- Dall...

University Of The Cumberl...

University Of The Incarna...

University Of The Science...

University Of West Alabam...

University Of Wisconsin-...

Ursinus College

Ursuline College

Utica College

Valley City State Univers...

Virginia Commonwealth Uni...

Wabash College

Wake Forest University

Washington And Lee Univer...

Washington College

Washington University- St...

Wells College

Wesleyan University

Western Carolina Universi...

Western Illinois Universi...

Western Kentucky Universi...

Western Washington Univer...

Wheaton College- Massachu...

Whitman College

Whittier College

Willamette University

William Jewell College

Williams College

Winston-salem State Unive...

Winthrop University

Wittenberg University

Wofford College

Yale University

York College

York College Of Pennsylva...

Acadia University

Bishop's University

Brock University

Canadian Mennonite Uni...

Cape Breton University

Dawson College

First Nations Universi...

King's University

Kwantlen Polytechnic I...

Lakehead University- O...

Mcgill University

Mcmaster University

Memorial University

Mount Allison Universi...

Mount Royal University...

Mount St. Vincent Univ...

Queen's University- Ki...

Redeemer University Co...

Royal Military College...

Thompson Rivers Univer...

Trent University- Pete...

Trinity Western Univer...

Universite De Montreal...

Université De Saint-bo...

Université Laval

University Of Alberta

University Of Alberta-...

University Of British...

University Of Northern...

University Of Ottawa

University Of Prince E...

University Of Quebec-...

University Of Sherbroo...

University Of Toronto-...

University Of Waterloo

University Of Windsor-...

Western University

Wilfred Laurier Univer...

York University- Keele...

USA

Canada

Potential Scholarships

Cad - Schulich Leader Sch...

Cad - Nserc Undergraduate...

Cad - Rbc Future Launch S...

Usd- Wts Molitoris Leader...

Cad - Indspire Building B...

Usd - Science-regeneron S...

Usd - Science - Science A...

Usd - Science - Acs Catal...

Usd - Science - Priscilla...

Usd - Science Gdit Horizo...

Cad - Horatio Alger Canad...

Approx Salary Expectation

Low End:

$58,000.00 /yr

Avg/Med:

$91,000.00 /yr

High End:

$161,000.00 /yr

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References

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.