Chemists

Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge.

$86,620
Median Annual Pay
Jobs growth:
+5% projected 2024โ€“2034
Bachelor's degree
Typical Entry-Level Education

What They Do

Chemists spend their days conducting experiments and analyzing substances to understand their chemical properties and behaviors. They work primarily in laboratories, where they use sophisticated equipment like spectrometers, chromatographs, and microscopes to test samples and record data. A typical day might involve preparing chemical solutions, running tests to determine a substance's composition, documenting results in detailed reports, and collaborating with colleagues to solve complex problems. Some chemists focus on quality control, ensuring products meet safety and purity standards, while others work in research and development, creating new materials, medicines, or consumer products.

Programs That Prepare You

College programs linked to this occupation, ranked by graduate earnings

Chemistry(doctoral)University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, MI
$110,158
Chemistry(doctoral)University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI
$108,840
Chemistry(doctoral)University of California-Berkeley, CA
$108,154
Chemistry(doctoral)North Carolina State University at Raleigh, NC
$106,676
Chemistry(doctoral)University of Delaware, DE
$103,167
Chemistry(doctoral)University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, IL
$101,242
Chemistry(doctoral)The University of Texas at Austin, TX
$100,906
Chemistry(doctoral)Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA
$96,201
Chemistry(doctoral)Ohio State University-Main Campus, OH
$93,474
Chemistry(doctoral)University of California-San Diego, CA
$93,148
Chemistry(doctoral)Indiana University-Bloomington, IN
$91,021
Chemistry(doctoral)Northwestern University, IL
$90,302
Chemistry(doctoral)University of South Carolina-Columbia, SC
$86,469
Chemistry(doctoral)University of California-Santa Barbara, CA
$85,864
Chemistry(doctoral)University of California-Riverside, CA
$85,864
Chemistry(doctoral)University of California-San Francisco, CA
$85,864
Chemistry(doctoral)University of California-Santa Cruz, CA
$85,864
Chemistry(doctoral)University of California-Los Angeles, CA
$85,864
Chemistry(doctoral)San Diego State University, CA
$85,864
Chemistry(doctoral)Stanford University, CA
$85,864
Chemistry(doctoral)University of California-Merced, CA
$85,864
Chemistry(doctoral)California Institute of Technology, CA
$85,864
Chemistry(doctoral)University of Southern California, CA
$85,864
Chemistry(doctoral)Purdue University-Main Campus, IN
$85,580
Chemistry(doctoral)Indiana University-Indianapolis, IN
$85,580

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