9 Jobs for Chemistry Majors
What can you do with a Chemistry degree?
Chemistry majors use math, theory, and experimentation to study matter (physical substance). This education and set of skills can help prepare you for a variety of different careers.
Here is a list of 9 jobs you might consider if you are majoring in Chemistry:
| Job Title | Projected Job Growth | Median Weekly Salary | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemists | 4.81% | $1,527.46 | $79,428 |
| Chemical Technicians | 3.75% | $942.40 | $49,005 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | 5.88% | $910.94 | $47,369 |
| Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | 4.79% | $1,520.42 | $79,062 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 4.94% | $2,652.00 | $137,904 |
| Forensic Science Technicians | 6.43% | $1,189.87 | $61,873 |
| Data Scientists | 17.32% | $1,929.79 | $103,349 |
| Materials Scientists | 1.27% | $1,924.81 | $100,090 |
| Chemical Engineers | 4.06% | $2,029.17 | $105,517 |
Chemists
Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge.
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.
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
Perform laboratory and field tests to monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution, including those that affect health, under the direction of an environmental scientist, engineer, or other specialist. May collect samples of gases, soil, water, and other materials for testing.
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses pertaining to the chemical and physical properties and compositional changes of substances. Work may include providing instruction in the methods of qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching, and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Natural Sciences Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.
Forensic Science Technicians
Collect, identify, classify, and analyze physical evidence related to criminal investigations. Perform tests on weapons or substances, such as fiber, hair, and tissue to determine significance to investigation. May testify as expert witnesses on evidence or crime laboratory techniques. May serve as specialists in area of expertise, such as ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, or biochemistry.
Data Scientists
Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.
Materials Scientists
Research and study the structures and chemical properties of various natural and synthetic or composite materials, including metals, alloys, rubber, ceramics, semiconductors, polymers, and glass. Determine ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials with new or specific properties for use in a variety of products and applications. Includes glass scientists, ceramic scientists, metallurgical scientists, and polymer scientists.
Chemical Engineers
Design chemical plant equipment and devise processes for manufacturing chemicals and products, such as gasoline, synthetic rubber, plastics, detergents, cement, paper, and pulp, by applying principles and technology of chemistry, physics, and engineering.
Explore Career Clusters
A career cluster is a group of jobs with similar features that often require similar knowledge or skills. Chemistry jobs often fall under the Education and Training, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, and Health Science career clusters. Explore more to learn about what skills and interests align to these career clusters.
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