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Job outlook for chemical technicians in the United States
Chemical technician job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected chemical technician job growth rate is 4% from 2018-2028.
About 2,700 new jobs for chemical technicians are projected over the next decade.
Chemical technician salaries have increased 9% for chemical technicians in the last 5 years.
There are over 14,838 chemical technicians currently employed in the United States.
There are 40,191 active chemical technician job openings in the US.
The average chemical technician salary is $42,584.
Are chemical technician jobs in demand?
Chemical technician job and salary trends over time
Chemical technician jobs over time
Chemical technician job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,838 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 16,330 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 16,914 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 16,847 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 16,603 | 0.01% |
Average chemical technician salary over time
Chemical technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $42,584 | $20.47 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $42,106 | $20.24 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $41,166 | $19.79 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $40,413 | $19.43 | +3.1% |
| 2021 | $39,182 | $18.84 | +2.6% |
Chemical technician jobs by state
Most common states for chemical technicians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,137 | 17% |
| 2 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 182 | 14% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 138 | 14% |
| 4 | Alaska | 739,795 | 106 | 14% |
| 5 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 367 | 12% |
| 6 | Vermont | 623,657 | 74 | 12% |
| 7 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 643 | 11% |
| 8 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 624 | 11% |
| 9 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 142 | 11% |
| 10 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 312 | 10% |
| 11 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 576 | 9% |
| 12 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 558 | 9% |
| 13 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 527 | 9% |
| 14 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 484 | 9% |
| 15 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 317 | 9% |
| 16 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,005 | 8% |
| 17 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 795 | 8% |
| 18 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 744 | 8% |
| 19 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 239 | 8% |
| 20 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 80 | 8% |
Most common cities for chemical technicians
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milpitas | 3 | 4% | $41,403 |
| 2 | Gainesville | 1 | 3% | $34,503 |
| 3 | Fremont | 5 | 2% | $41,347 |
| 4 | Kirkland | 2 | 2% | $39,898 |
| 5 | Ames | 1 | 2% | $39,125 |
| 6 | Naperville | 2 | 1% | $43,308 |
| 7 | Bloomington | 1 | 1% | $45,202 |
| 8 | Champaign | 1 | 1% | $42,965 |
| 9 | Huntsville | 1 | 1% | $38,219 |
| 10 | Phoenix | 4 | 0% | $40,887 |
| 11 | San Antonio | 3 | 0% | $43,188 |
| 12 | Chicago | 2 | 0% | $43,436 |
| 13 | Las Vegas | 2 | 0% | $45,236 |
| 14 | Houston | 1 | 0% | $42,958 |
Chemical Technician job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of chemical technician experts
Northern Michigan University
California State University - East Bay
College of Idaho
Ohio University Southern
Wake Forest University
University of Utah
Boston College
Kettering University
Eastern Kentucky University
The University of New Hampshire's Central Science
University of Minnesota, Morris
High Point University
Georgia College and State University
Maryville University
Cleveland Community College
Elmira College
University of the Sciences
Oral Roberts University
Norfolk State University
Martin Renaldi MT (ASCP), MPA
Assistant Professor / MLS Program DirectorNorthern Michigan University
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, And Treatment Professions
What general advice would you give to a Chemical Technician?
Martin Renaldi MT (ASCP), MPA: Experience. I have found through my time in the realm that an experienced lab tech is going to be highly sought after and henceforth will have optimal pay opportunities. As the word implies, experience can only be achieved through 'time in the lab' which means you have to put in your time to gather that resume boosting element, experience. Once that happens, then even more doors open up in the profession.
What Chemical Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Martin Renaldi MT (ASCP), MPA: The skills that will be required in the lab tech milieu over the next 3-5 years are the same ones that are necessary now, which is what makes the lab tech profession so lucrative. Foundational laboratory skills are a must now and will be must in the future. Once the aspiring lab tech learns and masters the foundational work, such as lab math, pipetting, dilution schemes, titrating, proper glassware use and application, basic spectrophotometry, transformational weights and measures, microscopy, etc. then they'll be readily adaptable for employment in any laboratory setting.
What will help Chemical Technicians increase their earning potential?
Martin Renaldi MT (ASCP), MPA: I would highly recommend that the newly graduated lab tech does not limit themself to a specific location or a specific vocation. The places to work and the types of jobs available are nearly limitless. If one thinks outside of the box, outside of the mainstream lab tech opportunities, they'll find a whole host of other intriguing possibilities. So, do not limit yourself, the world is your oyster, .......so to speak.
What general advice would you give to a Chemical Technician?
Monika Sommerhalter: Know your worth and look for opportunities to grow. Set yourself professional goals, whether it is a large goal (such as getting a promotion) or smaller goals (attending a workshop to master a new skill) on an ongoing basis. Keep your resume up-to-date so that it is easier for you to apply for new job opportunities within or outside of your company.
What will help Chemical Technicians increase their earning potential?
Monika Sommerhalter: The skill of learning itself! Being able to acquire new skills will become more important as technological progress speeds up. With more automation and machine assisted analysis, more data will be generated. The ability to distinguish relevant and meaningful information from superfluous data without getting overwhelmed will therefore also matter. Communication skills will always be relevant. Research and production teams need group members who can communicate their findings in an efficient and clear manner. With respect to Chemistry: Most analytical chemistry techniques, for example High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), will remain important for many years to come, but there will always be extensions and new developments, such as Ultra(HPLC) and new chromatography materials and detection methods. Having a solid foundation and to understand the basic principles of essential laboratory techniques in Chemistry combined with a curious and open mind to appreciate or even come-up with novel developments is a great recipe for success!
Changqing Chen Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorWhat will help Chemical Technicians increase their earning potential?
Changqing Chen Ph.D.: Try to develop some business skills on product marketing and sales. Try to apply your scientific and engineering skills to business and become an all-around player.
What general advice would you give to a Chemical Technician?
Bonnie Cantrell: Chemistry is the backbone to most protocols for the material, medical, and biological sciences.
Without chemistry, we would not know many of the things we know today. It will always be relevant in
helping change the scientific world as we know it. The advancements in science technology alone makes
chemistry today more exciting than ever. Just with balances from 1980's to now, we went from only
being able to weigh with counter balance weights to having a digital scale read accurately to 0.001
milligrams. Chemistry used to be more theoretical and only explainable from what we could make react
together. Now we have technology that can visualize the chemical composition and structure allowing
for us to create solutions to problems we could only dream of before. Whether you are wanting danger,
to save lives, or to help make this planet a better place to live, being a chemist can help you fuel your
passions.
Kyle Kemats Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of InstructionOhio University Southern
Chemistry Department
What hard/technical skills are most important for Chemical Technicians?
Kyle Kemats Ph.D.: As I mentioned in question 1, training/experience on various instruments is the most important for industry/research jobs. For teaching positions, experience with different pedagogical/education techniques will be helpful for a potential candidate.
Brian Mendenhall
Associate Director and Career CoachWake Forest University
Office of Personal and Career Development
What soft skills should all Chemical Technicians possess?
Brian Mendenhall: In the past, the most important attributes have been leadership and problem-solving skills. If the pandemic has taught us anything, the most important attribute is the ability to work with others and get along in multiple virtual and in-person environments. The rest seem elementary and are all dependent on each other. To work well on a team, you need to problem-solve, both on the topic and on how to share information. To solve problems, you need to be analytical and quantitative. Certainly, to do this well, you need to communicate across diverse audiences and levels of understanding. The National Association of Colleges and Employers surveys employers on these priorities and updates the results frequently. (see below for your reference)
Ability to work in a team 81.0%
Problem-solving skills 79.0%
Analytical/quantitative skills 76.1%
Communication skills (verbal) 73.2%
Communication skills (written)
https://www.naceweb.org/about-us/press/the-key-attributes-employers-seek-on-college-graduates-resumes/
Shelley Minteer Ph.D.
Dale and Susan Poulter Endowed Chair in Biological Chemistry, Associate Chair of ChemistryUniversity of Utah
Department Of Chemistry
What skills stand out on Chemical Technician resumes?
Shelley Minteer Ph.D.: The skills that stand out are research experience, characterization instrumentation experience, and more recently, data science experience and coding experience, as machine learning and AI become more and more important in chemistry.
What soft skills should all Chemical Technicians possess?
Shelley Minteer Ph.D.: The most important soft skills are communication and people management skills. It is critical to be strong in both oral and written communication.
Dunwei Wang Ph.D.
Margaret A & Thomas A Vanderslice Chair in Chemistry, Professor of Chemistry, Chairperson of Chemistry DepartmentBoston College
Chemistry Department
What soft skills should all Chemical Technicians possess?
Dunwei Wang Ph.D.: Problem-solving skills. When presented with a problem, knowing where to go to find information to solve it.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Chemical Technicians?
Dunwei Wang Ph.D.: Chemistry is a diverse field. As a foundational discipline, it enables several sub-fields and supports emerging new fields. As one example, our graduates become experts in medical research, health care, and scientists and engineers in many other fields. Depending on the different career goals, what is important can be drastically different. Generally speaking, doing bench work (either in the lab or on a computer) should be a good skill to have at graduation.
What Chemical Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Daniel Ludwigsen: Graduates from our programs often find that graduate degrees, masters, or even doctorates, fit into their career trajectories well. If I were advising a graduating senior considering a gap year, I would suggest a certificate program in a relevant field, such as programming, data science, or similar areas. While these incorporate broadly applicable skills as well as valuable disciplinary perspective, these certificate programs often offer credit that can later be applied toward a graduate degree.
What Chemical Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Tanea Reed Ph.D.: I would recommend gaining additional laboratory and/or research experience to enhance their skill set with new techniques. Individuals could do this by reaching out to principal investigators of research laboratories who are conducting research that they have an interest in. They can also start to build their network by reaching out to professional organizations such as the American Chemical Society and their university's alumni association. These relationships can possibly lead to future opportunities.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Chemical Technicians?
Glen P. Miller: Yes, there will be many enduring impacts. Office spaces and buildings will be devalued somewhat, while remote work and virtual meetings have become and will remain important. In chemistry and tangential fields, there will always be a need for in-person work in specialized laboratories, but the manner in which we communicate results internally and externally has changed. There will be less emphasis on in-person communication and a greater emphasis on remote and electronic communication, including email and video reports/presentations. Business travel will drop while skills that enable effective electronic communication will play an even larger role than they already do. Writing skills, including but not limited to technical writing, will become an increasingly valued characteristic of top employees. An ability to speak in a clear, articulate manner will also be prized. None of this, however, supersedes the need for graduates with a robust background in chemistry and a strong work ethic to match.
How do you envision technology impacting Chemical Technicians in the next 5 years?
Glen P. Miller: The chemistry field is constantly impacted by advancements in scientific instrumentation, hardware, and software, especially those that cut across adjacent fields like biology and materials science. Job seekers should be well-grounded in current technologies while aware of recent developments and trends.
How do you envision technology impacting Chemical Technicians in the next 5 years?
Alyssa Pirinelli Ph.D.: I think we will have more opportunities to work remotely, so I believe graduates will need experience working in teams on documents and related software. Scheduling synchronous meetings may become more challenging due to outside work or personal commitments/responsibilities. It is currently unclear when things may return to "normal" concerning having people in one physical room for a meeting. Therefore Zoom experience (both as an attendee and someone who runs their sessions with at least a few other people present) or similar will be essential. I also believe there will be more emphasis on the written word and conceptual drawings/artistic expression. There is no requirement for everyone to be in the room simultaneously, and the "workshopping an idea" is nowhere near as quickly done over Zoom. Software for creating images (from basic chemical line structures to creating and manipulating 3D drawings of macromolecules) may help mitigate some of these problems. In some cases, additional seats/site licenses may be needed for some software, depending on the demand.
More of our instrumentation can likely be run remotely, or the software may need to be easily remotely monitored. Still, in many cases, the required tech is either expensive or not invented yet (this may be a promising avenue for students who are analytical minded!). However, much of the leading technology we use on a daily/weekly basis is pretty standard. There may be more influx of new/cutting edge things at larger institutions, but for now, students need to know the basics of how to understand/run/troubleshoot standard instruments. Fancier buttons do not necessarily make for fancier instrumentation.
Dr. Brian Augustine Ph.D.
Professor of Chemistry and ChairHigh Point University
Department of Chemistry
What type of skills will young Chemical Technicians need?
Dr. Brian Augustine Ph.D.: Students always need foundational technical skills. In addition to skills specific to chemistry and biochemistry, strong communication and interpersonal skills such as writing, speaking, and collaboration are vital, as are quantitative reasoning skills such as data analytics, statistical analysis, and programming.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Chemical Technicians in the next 3-5 years?
Peter Rosado: Right now, with COVID-19, I feel that the field of medicinal chemistry/biotechnology is going to see a boom. Materials science is also on the rise with alternative energies and new restorative therapies. The area of chemistry is not a more extended purist and more integrated/interdisciplinary. No longer can you call yourself an "inorganic chemist" or an "analytical chemist"? Graduates should be aware that flexibility and eagerness to learn new things is critical here. These are the skills obtained from a college degree, which is not the only subject matter. But the ability to think through and solve problems, be flexible, adaptable, etc.
How do you envision technology impacting Chemical Technicians in the next 5 years?
Anuradha Vummenthala: Technology is going to have a significant impact on the field in the next five years. Artificial Intelligence, Deep learning, Data mining, and Data Analytics will play a massive role in Pharmaceuticals, Agrochemicals, and other chemistry-related areas. For instance, recently, IBM has announced the development of an AI/cloud-based chemistry lab named RoboRxn, which will help chemists deliver the products faster and efficiently and avoid the age-old approach of trial and error.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Chemical Technicians?
Lynn Monteith: The pandemic is already impacting new graduates' ability to secure jobs. It is also affecting students who are currently enrolled in college courses. Some students choose to take a year off from school with hopes of returning to campus after the pandemic is over.
What general advice would you give to a Chemical Technician?
Dr. Betsy Smith: I would advise students just graduating to be flexible and open-minded in their job search. Chemistry is a challenging major, and students who succeed in it have learned how to learn, so they shouldn't assume that pure chemistry is the only thing they can do. One growing field is biomedical research, and chemistry majors are often qualified for jobs in that area. If you have other strengths like writing, there are often jobs that can combine them as a technical writer or work for a science journal. There are jobs out there that might be perfect for you that you haven't heard of until you see an ad for it, so be open to different possibilities.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Chemical Technicians?
Dr. Betsy Smith: I am sure the pandemic is going to have lasting effects on everything, chemistry included. I think all industries are going to continue allowing more working from home when it's appropriate. For bench chemists, that will rarely mean fully at-home because of lab work, but it might mean going in, setting up an automated reactor, and monitoring it from home while analyzing data. There will be a lot more research into coronaviruses and how to treat coronavirus infections. That seems like it would be more biological or medical, but there's a lot of chemistry involved in drugs and drug design, and a lot of overlap between chemistry and biology.
John Tomsho Ph.D.
Director, Graduate Programs in Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacognosy Co-Director, Chemistry Core Facility NMR Facility Director Associate Professor of Chemistry and BiochemistryUniversity of the Sciences
Department of of Chemistry and Biochemistry
What general advice would you give to a Chemical Technician?
John Tomsho Ph.D.: Keep an open mind and consider all career options available to you. Also, seriously consider temp agencies and other short-term/contract employment opportunities. Many companies will hire their permanent employees from their ranks of contract workers. These short assignments can primarily serve the purpose of a 6-12 month interview period.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Chemical Technicians in the next 3-5 years?
John Tomsho Ph.D.: We have seen the automation of many routine lab processes over the years, and I think that we will be continuing, this trend of increasing automation in the lab. Currently, there is even work being done to develop automated, non-routine processes like discovery chemistries, literature searching, and also synthetic route design. This will increase the need for workers that can develop, design, build, and maintain these technologies (both hardware and software). This also increases the importance of individuals trained in quantitative analysis to analyze and appropriately use the data being generated critically.
Dr. William Collier Ph.D.
Professor of ChemistryOral Roberts University
Chemistry and Biology
What general advice would you give to a Chemical Technician?
Dr. William Collier Ph.D.: Know where you want to go, and head in that direction. Be open to a lot of different starting positions; you are young and can change at this point in your career reasonably quickly. In short, if an exciting job comes up, it is not exactly what you are looking for, but you need a job. You might be surprised to find out what you do and do not like about it. You can always change a few years down the line. Work hard, be honest, treat others right, be a team person, and leave excellent impressions of yourself. You will live happier, and be surprised at how far your reputation (for good or ill) will travel. Verbal references to your work skill, talent, and work behavior can carry more weight than a resume.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Chemical Technicians in the next 3-5 years?
Suely Black Ph.D.: We cannot predict what new technologies will emerge, so it is essential to be adaptable and comfortable with learning how to use all kinds of techniques, mostly those that connect people.