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The differences between chemists and chemical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a chemist has an average salary of $64,961, which is higher than the $42,584 average annual salary of a chemical technician.
The top three skills for a chemist include chemistry, lab equipment and test results. The most important skills for a chemical technician are lab equipment, safety procedures, and hazardous materials.
| Chemist | Chemical Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $64,961 | $42,584 |
| Hourly rate | $31.23 | $20.47 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 20,221 | 40,191 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
Chemists are generally responsible for observing and investigating chemical substances to create new and safe compounds essential for practical applications. They are often grouped depending on a particular area of specialization to focus and understand the complexities of the matter. A chemist usually takes time performing research and conducting experiments to test and further improve the quality and usage of a specific chemical substance. Chemists are expected to write on their observations and findings to establish scientific results.
A chemical technician is responsible for supporting chemists and laboratory technicians in performing laboratory investigations and examining chemical components and structures. Chemical technicians ensure the stability of laboratory tools and equipment, performing proper sterilization and segregation of disposable materials, and maintaining the adequacy of inventory. They also record the research progress, including scientific methods, and write observation reports for reference. A chemical technician manages the cleanliness and orderliness of the facility to avoid potential hazards and complications during chemical operations.
Chemists and chemical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chemist | Chemical Technician | |
| Average salary | $64,961 | $42,584 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $90,000 | Between $30,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Wilmington, DE | Baltimore, MD |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Meta | Calpine |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a chemist and a chemical technician in terms of educational background:
| Chemist | Chemical Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon |
Here are the differences between chemists' and chemical technicians' demographics:
| Chemist | Chemical Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.6% Female, 40.4% | Male, 80.5% Female, 19.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 18.2% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 6.9% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 9% |