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Job outlook for chemists in the United States
Chemist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected chemist job growth rate is 6% from 2018-2028.
About 5,700 new jobs for chemists are projected over the next decade.
Chemist salaries have increased 8% for chemists in the last 5 years.
There are over 83,461 chemists currently employed in the United States.
There are 20,221 active chemist job openings in the US.
The average chemist salary is $64,961.
Are chemist jobs in demand?
Chemist job and salary trends over time
Chemist jobs over time
Chemist job growth rate over time
| Year | # Of Jobs | % Of Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 83,461 | 0.02% |
| 2020 | 86,300 | 0.03% |
| 2019 | 87,198 | 0.03% |
| 2018 | 87,910 | 0.03% |
| 2017 | 87,665 | 0.03% |
Average chemist salary over time
Chemist salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $64,961 | $31.23 | +2.2% |
| 2024 | $63,593 | $30.57 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | $62,987 | $30.28 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $61,226 | $29.44 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | $60,406 | $29.04 | +3.5% |
Chemist jobs by state
Most common states for chemists
| Rank | State | Population | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,082 | 16% |
| 2 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 565 | 8% |
| 3 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 512 | 8% |
| 4 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 600 | 7% |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 93 | 7% |
| 6 | Delaware | 961,939 | 72 | 7% |
| 7 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 51 | 7% |
| 8 | California | 39,536,653 | 2,275 | 6% |
| 9 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 180 | 6% |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 677 | 5% |
| 11 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 299 | 5% |
| 12 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 284 | 5% |
| 13 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 191 | 5% |
| 14 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 164 | 5% |
| 15 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 51 | 5% |
| 16 | New York | 19,849,399 | 794 | 4% |
| 17 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 420 | 4% |
| 18 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 321 | 4% |
| 19 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 81 | 4% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 23 | 4% |
Most common cities for chemists
| Rank | City | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyandotte | 14 | 56% | $63,733 |
| 2 | North Chicago | 11 | 37% | $56,521 |
| 3 | Rahway | 7 | 24% | $73,988 |
| 4 | Ann Arbor | 9 | 7% | $63,546 |
| 5 | Portland | 4 | 6% | $58,647 |
| 6 | Fremont | 9 | 4% | $65,335 |
| 7 | Carrollton | 6 | 4% | $63,313 |
| 8 | Beaumont | 4 | 3% | $63,064 |
| 9 | Saint Louis | 6 | 2% | $54,891 |
| 10 | Indianapolis | 8 | 1% | $60,203 |
| 11 | San Diego | 6 | 0% | $59,300 |
| 12 | Houston | 5 | 0% | $63,179 |
Chemist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of chemist experts
Queens University of Charlotte
California State University - East Bay
Ohio Dominican University
North Carolina State University
Northern Kentucky University
University of the Pacific
Brigham Young University
Northern Kentucky University
Southwestern College
University of Kentucky
University of Illinois at Springfield
College of Idaho
What general advice would you give to a Chemist?
John Richardson: Skills? Well, both hard and soft... Obviously, you will need to have the basic lab and knowledge skills that would be expected of a competent chemistry graduate. Yes, your new employer will spend time training you in the specific skills that pertain to your new job, but basic knowledge and skill sets (e.g., pipetting, calculating dilution factors, having baseline knowledge of common instrumentation) will be expected. As for soft skills, be friendly, cooperative, and curious. Extend these character traits to both your peers and supervisors. Other useful skills that my former students mention would be having some basic knowledge of business and perhaps coding.
What Chemist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
John Richardson: Good general advice to someone just beginning in a new career would be to keep that work ethic up...Show up when you are supposed to and work the hours that you are contractually obligated to work. Of course, set firm boundaries as well. If you are going above and beyond, be sure that your supervisor is noticing and in your court to see that you are properly compensated or otherwise rewarded.
What will help Chemists increase their earning potential?
John Richardson: Maximizing salary potential comes not only from having a sound background in your chosen field (you must represent value to your company), but also through sound communication skills, both written and oral. If you can come off as a competent, confident, and well-versed candidate (asset) in the interview process, you will probably land the job! Direct, honest, and effective communication will then help you keep your job and even be considered for raises and promotions. I also like to encourage my students to broaden their skill sets and credentials while still in school: consider earning a minor in something like business, mathematics, or computer science... You never know where your future career might take you!
What general advice would you give to a Chemist?
Aurora Clark: BS level Chemists can be employed in a variety of roles that leverage their scientific knowledge, laboratory and analytical thinking skills. As technicians in companies or government organizations they may be responsible for sample collection and analysis – for example water quality. They may also work in R&D; in industry as part of larger teams doing development of new materials or devices. On a daily basis this may include testing of different properties of materials under development or helping to design new experimental protocols/procedures to optimize synthesis or characterization. Leveraging their fundamental knowledge of Chemistry they may also work in government within interdisciplinary groups, in science policy, or may pursue science communication.
What Chemist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Aurora Clark: Chemistry is often called the Central Science because it intersects Biology, Physics, Math and Materials Science. As such, fundamental Chemistry knowledge is transferable and portable to a large range of public and private sectors. With artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) now actively part of the research process, Chemists are also at the intersection of Computer Science. The domain knowledge of Chemists is needed to help the Chemical industry employ AI and ML to create new therapeutics, materials, and to tackle challenges in energy production and environmental protection.
What will help Chemists increase their earning potential?
Aurora Clark: With a BS degree there will be some limitations associated with professional advancement and the ability to be a team leader.
Justin Moss
Assistant ProfessorQueens University of Charlotte
Chemistry
What general advice would you give to a Chemist?
Justin Moss: Chemistry is a good profession to enter due to its evolving and interdisciplinary nature, job demand, competitive salaries, and rewarding work.
What Chemist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Justin Moss: Likes: Ability to contribute positively to world advances, rewarding & intellectually stimulating work, ability to be creative. Dislikes: Investment of time to earn an advanced degree, continuous on-the-job training, amount of math involved.
What will help Chemists increase their earning potential?
Justin Moss: The primary duties of a research chemist include designing and conducting experimental procedures, preparing solutions, using specialized equipment, data analytics software, observing safety protocols, reporting work in written documents, and communicating orally in group meetings. Work is done independently and in a team setting.
What general advice would you give to a Chemist?
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 Chemist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Monika Sommerhalter: Expand and take care of your professional network throughout your career. Start by keeping in touch with your peers and mentors from university. Personal connections can help you find more job openings and professional development opportunities. If you surround yourself with a supportive professional network, your career path will also feel more rewarding.
What will help Chemists 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!
What general advice would you give to a Chemist?
Dr. Christopher Martin: Maximizing your salary potential when starting your career in the area of chemistry will be largely dependent on your ability to know your skills and the value of those skills to potential employers. Always work to gain more experience and expand your skill base. As college students, you relied on professors to determine your ability and assign grades. In a job market that is driven by digital resumes, online job applications, key skill words, and an increasing amount of changing jobs, knowing what skills you have and matching them to skills employers are looking for will dictate your worth to that company. If you know your worth and your value, you can determine if you are being fairly compensated. If you don't know your worth, don't expect to get well compensated for what you don't understand yourself.
What Chemist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Christopher Martin: I believe that some of the important skills that chemists will find in the field in the next 3-5 years include the ability to be self-motivated, flexible, and to be a self-learner. The increase in the use of AI, automated processes, and digital resources will ask the chemist of the future to do more than we ever imagined in the past. Being able to learn, pivot, and leverage these emerging technologies in the chemical field will separate the new chemists from the older generation and whoever is willing to learn and lead in these areas will be highly successful.
What will help Chemists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Christopher Martin: If you are a new chemistry graduate beginning your career as a chemist, understand that you are no longer going to be studying chemistry just to take a test and talk about how someone may hypothetically do chemistry. You will be expected to apply the fundamentals you learned and actually do chemistry. You may need to call upon skills in classes and labs that you didn't expect to use, and you may be trained in a new area or using new instrumentation that you have not seen before. Different fields in chemistry call on different skills, but skills are transferrable and skills will be what makes you valuable.
What general advice would you give to a Chemist?
Mark Griep: Beginning chemists do the sorts of things that other scientists do. They start by learning the protocols for the most common procedures. Once they have demonstrated they can do the procedures reliably, they use those procedures to run tests on the materials that the company produces. Their results are needed to show that everything is safe and that the products meet the quality standards set by the company and government. They summarize their findings by writing technical reports and presenting them to their supervisors.
What Chemist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mark Griep: It is a good time to become a chemist because so many new fields have opened up and the traditional fields are working to become more environmentally sensitive. The students that I've helped train have entered a wide range of fields, although most have entered the pharmaceutical and environmental fields. The public's appetite continues to grow for effective drug therapies and real solutions to fight climate change or to address the effects of climate change.
What will help Chemists increase their earning potential?
Mark Griep: I've never talked to my student trainees about the good and bad aspects of being a chemist. Personally, one of the great things about being a chemist is that nearly everyone else thinks you're a genius because they don't understand it. I suppose one of the bad things is that there is a level of danger associated with handling the chemicals. It's one of the reasons that chemists are always discussing safety protocols.
What general advice would you give to a Chemist?
Lucian Lucia: EACH DAY PRESENTS A WHOLE NEW SET OF AMAZING AND DIVERSE OPPORTUNITIES WHICH WE OFTEN TAKE FOR GRANTED; FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE THE CENTRAL SCIENCE AND THEREFORE PLUG INTO MEDICINE, BIOLOGY, MATERIALS, AND ENGINEERING AMONG A HOST OF DISCIPLINES IN WHICH CHEMISTRY, THE MOLECULAR SCIENCE, PLAYS A KEY ROLE. WE ARE TASKED WITH DEVELOPING OR ANALYZING CHEMICAL PHENOMENA FOR EACH OF THESE DISCIPLINES. GIVEN THAT CHEMISTRY DEALS WITH REACTIONS, MECHANISMS, AND THE MOLECULAR BEHAVIOR OF MATTER, WE TEND TO WORK AT A LAB, PILOT, OR EVEN INDUSTRIAL SCALE TO MONITOR THE EFFICIENCY, QUALITY, AND QUANTITY OF OUR REACTIONS. FOR INSTANCE, WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT PINE BARK AS A SOURCE OF VALUABLE ANTI-OXIDANTS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION AND ARE THEREFORE COLLECTING THEM, GRINDING THEM, AND METICULOUSLY EXTRACTING THE ANTI-OXIDANTS. OUR HOPE IS TO DO THIS AT A LARGE SCALE IN WHICH TONS OF BARK ARE PRE-PROCESSED IN SUCH MANNER BEFORE THEIR NORMAL FATE OF BURNING FOR FUEL OR USE AS GROUND COVER (E.G., MULCH).
What Chemist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Lucian Lucia: BECAUSE IT IS KEY TO SOLVING THE GRAND CHALLENGES OF HUMAN HEALTH, CLEAN WATER AND AIR, ABUNDANT AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD, AND CLEAN ENERGY. EACH OF THESE NEEDS DESPERATELY NEED SOMEONE EQUIPPED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE ONLY AVAILABLE TO CHEMISTS. AS CHEMISTS, WE WILL EXPLORE THE MATERIALS, CHEMICALS, AND PROCESSES NEEDED TO ADDRESS EACH OF THE CHALLENGES. WE WILL NOT DO THIS WORK IN A VACUUM, BUT COLLABORATE WITH ENGINEERS, BIOLOGISTS, PHYSICISTS, AND MATERIALS SCIENTISTS. WE MELD WELL IN A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM AND POSSESS A DETAILED LOGIC, KNOWLEDGE, AND POISE WHICH MAKE US AN INDISPENSABLE MEMBER OF THE TEAM. THE WORLD DESPERATELY NEEDS CHEMISTS! MOREOVER, WE MUST OVERCOME THE STIGMA IT HAS BORNE FOR MANY YEARS IN ORDER TO PROPERLY ENTICE STUDENTS OF THE HIGHEST TALENT AND INTELLECT BECAUSE IT HAS THE POWER TO CHANGE OUR LIVES.
What will help Chemists increase their earning potential?
Lucian Lucia: THIS IS A VERY LOADED QUESTION! CHEMISTS RECOGNIZE HOW IMPERATIVE IT REMAINS FOR CHANGING THE QUALITY OF OUR LIVES, YET, WE INTENSELY FEEL AND FACE THE BURDEN OF ITS IMAGE AS A POLLUTING FORCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD. IN MANY WAYS, WE HAVE BROUGHT THE BURDEN ON OURSELVES BY NOT RECOGNIZING AND EMBRACING THE POTENTIAL OF GREEN CHEMISTRY AS A FORCE FOR GOOD AND CHANGE. AS WITH ANY TECHNOLOGY, THERE ARE PROS AND CONS, BUT THE COMMUNITY OF CHEMISTRY HAS NOT SUFFICIENTLY PROVIDED A COGENT ARGUMENT FOR WHY IT SHOULD BE PURSUED BY MANY MORE STUDENTS. TODAY, MORE THAN EVER, IT HAS CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF MANY OTHER DISCIPLINES WHO DIP THEIR FEET IN IT BECAUSE IT IS SO ESSENTIAL TO MANY OF THE CHALLENGES WE ENUMERATED ABOVE. WE ARE A NOBLE PROFESSON, LIKE LAW OR MEDICINE, BUT SHROUDED IN MYSTERY BECAUSE WE DO NOT TEND TO ENGAGE IN ARGUMENTS OVERCOMING THE POLEMICS WE FACE IN SOCIETY. CHEMISTRY CAN DO A LOT OF GOOD, BUT WE NEED TO MANAGE OUR SCIENCE TO FOCUS ON ITS SUSTAINABILITY AND PROCLAIM IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS.
What general advice would you give to a Chemist?
Isabelle Lagadic Ph.D.: My recommendation would be to have been involved in many internships, part-time jobs in industries in this field. A very successful internship may almost become the equivalent of an entry level position, and already provides a foot in the door to have access to higher level positions. Then, I would say to continue learning and take advantage of any professional development the company or organization may offer.
What Chemist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Isabelle Lagadic Ph.D.: I’ve met employers asking me if I could teach my students basic skills like “being on time”, “writing a proper email”, “clearly and carefully documenting their work”, “using critical thinking to stop a recording or an experiment when it is obvious that it is not working”. Those very basic skills that everyone takes for granted in addition of basic technical skills are going to become the most prevalent in the coming years. What’s scary is the collision between the inevitable advancement of Ai in this field and this lack of basic skills. It is difficult to train people on tomorrow’s skills if they don’t already master today’s skills.
What will help Chemists increase their earning potential?
Isabelle Lagadic Ph.D.: To expect a significant difference between the academic place and the workplace in terms of the work expectations, time management, independent work, having to take initiatives, etc. Many chemistry (or science majors in general) graduates think that their degree prepared them well for a job and are both disappointed and overwhelmed when they are confronted with the reality of the workplace. Not that starting at an entry level in this field is complicated, but because they haven’t been taught the skills, both technical and soft, to feel comfortable in the workplace.
What general advice would you give to a Chemist?
Konstantinos Vogiatzis: Chemistry is a scientific field that it stands by itself, but at the same time it offers the fundamental knowledge to other disciplines such as materials science, polymers, spectroscopy, biochemistry, and agriculture. This interdisciplinary character is pivotal for many technological applications related to medicine, environment, electronics, etc.
What Chemist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Konstantinos Vogiatzis: The day-to-day work heavily depends on the actual position. It might include the application of analytical or spectroscopic techniques for quality control, synthesis of molecules or materials, or simply the utilization of computers for the simulation of chemical processes.
What will help Chemists increase their earning potential?
Konstantinos Vogiatzis: It’s hard to respond to this question, since chemical technology is exciting in any aspect! The chemical elements are the alphabet of a chemist, and the decillion of different combinations between them form an enormous chemical space that needs to be explored for the discovery of new, fascinating molecular structures. Modern AI is actively helping the chemist to navigate the molecular space. Some people (like me!) dislike the laborious chemical synthesis, but for others this is the true beauty of our discipline.
What general advice would you give to a Chemist?
Kristina Stefaniak: Don’t limit yourself, have confidence that the skills and critical thinking needed to graduate with a degree in chemistry has prepared you for a wide range of positions. If there are jobs that require skills you don’t currently have, still apply knowing that you will be able to learn and grow into those positions.
What Chemist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kristina Stefaniak: Say yes to things at the beginning, those exposures will lead to gaining more knowledge and additional opportunities for advancement.
What will help Chemists increase their earning potential?
Kristina Stefaniak: Some skills that are important would be the ability to communicate science clearly and effectively to all audiences, be it through TikTok, at a board meeting, or a meeting with your manager. Each audience requires a different form of science communication and knowing your goal and the way to execute it is a learned skilled. Having a knowledge of green chemistry is a critical component for all future scientists. It’s an important shift in how chemists are trained and has been supported by The American Chemical Society (ACS). Green chemistry provides a foundation that could be useful in all chemistry careers.
What general advice would you give to a Chemist?
Dr. Jingbo Liu PhD: People in the chemistry profession often appreciate the opportunity to contribute to scientific advancement and the practical application of their work in improving people’s lives. The field offers continuous learning and the chance to work on diverse, cutting-edge projects. However, some challenges include the need for meticulous attention to detail, handling of potentially hazardous substances, and the pressure to produce results in research. Additionally, the work can sometimes be demanding and require long hours in the laboratory. Nevertheless, the satisfaction of making meaningful contributions to science and society and the intellectual stimulation provided by the field make it a rewarding profession for many.
What Chemist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Jingbo Liu PhD: Chemistry is a great profession to enter now because it is at the forefront of solving many global challenges. From developing new energy sources to creating medical treatments, chemists play a crucial role in advancing science and improving quality of life. Furthermore, the demand for chemists is expected to grow in various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, energy, and materials science. The ongoing technological advancements also mean chemists have access to increasingly sophisticated tools and techniques, which can significantly enhance their research capabilities. Moreover, the growing emphasis on sustainability and green chemistry presents numerous opportunities for chemists to positively impact the environment and society.
What will help Chemists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Jingbo Liu PhD: A chemist’s day-to-day tasks vary greatly depending on their specific role and field. However, everyday tasks include designing and conducting experiments, analyzing data, writing reports, and maintaining safety protocols in the laboratory. Someone entering the field might start as a laboratory assistant or technician, preparing samples, maintaining equipment, and assisting with experiments and research. They could also be involved in data analysis, using various software tools to interpret and visualize experimental results. Furthermore, they may participate in team meetings to discuss their findings and plan future research directions. It’s a dynamic and exciting field with plenty of opportunities for learning and growth.
What general advice would you give to a Chemist?
Joseph Harrison: Chemistry is a good profession to have because it is in demand, since we are in a nanotechnology revolution there are/will be many jobs for chemists. Also, the problem-solving and analytical skills that Chemists use are useful for any industry.
What Chemist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Joseph Harrison: Chemistry is an expansive field and chemists do a wide range of things from helping to make new pharmaceutical drugs, to testing water for contaminants, to working on specialized equipment used to identify characteristics of new molecules.
What will help Chemists increase their earning potential?
Joseph Harrison: Chemists typically like using their problem-solving skills to advance science, but sometimes Chemists, especially in entry-level positions can be repetitive (i.e., doing the same analysis over and over again)
Dr. Jaron Hansen
Professor and ChairBrigham Young University
Chemistry
What general advice would you give to a Chemist?
Dr. Jaron Hansen: Likes: Intellectual Challenge, Contributing to Society, Variety of Career Opportunities, Hands-On Laboratory Work, Collaboration and Teamwork. Dislikes: Repetitive or Mundane Work, Pressure to Produce Results, Limited Funding and Job Instability.
What Chemist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Jaron Hansen: Entering the field of chemistry can be advantageous for several reasons including a growing demand, diverse career opportunities, and the ability to innovate and contribute to solving plaguing societal problems.
What will help Chemists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Jaron Hansen: Chemists are involved in a wide range of jobs on a day-to-day basis. A chemist's day-to-day activities can vary widely depending on their specific role, industry, and field of specialization. However, here are some common tasks that chemists might engage in: Research and Experimentation, Analysis and Testing, Product Development, Quality Control, Data Analysis and Interpretation, Documentation and Reporting, Collaboration and Communication, Lab Maintenance and Safety.
What general advice would you give to a Chemist?
Patrick Hare: Diversify your skill set, and make sure you are aware of how diverse your skillset truly is. Research experience may have taught you about inert atmosphere synthesis, for example, but there’s lots of analytical, teamwork, safety, and communication skills that you may have developed. Make sure you are also conveying these skills to interviewers. Finally, negotiate. Do your homework and don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself.
What Chemist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Patrick Hare: Don’t just look for ‘chemist’ positions. A chemistry degree sets you up to do lots of different things under lots of different names. Once you get a job, keep networking (or if you haven’t done so, start)! Your first position won’t be your last, and having a group you can tap for help getting the next job or just figuring out problems that arise in the current one is very useful.
What will help Chemists increase their earning potential?
Patrick Hare: Facility with using and interpreting AI results is an obvious growing need. Many of those skills are just applied analytical and critical thinking. The trick will be to do the applying and keep them fresh. Understanding how the systems work will also be useful.
What general advice would you give to a Chemist?
Dr. Daniel King: There is no single answer to this because chemistry includes such a broad category of jobs. Laboratory chemists are likely to be running experiments on a day-to-day basis. Running experiments will include calibrating and maintaining instrumentation, planning and designing new experiments, and preparing and analyzing samples. However, if someone’s work is more focused on research, then there might be more time devoted to analysis and interpretation of data and results and more time spent reading the literature. Other chemists might focus their efforts on analyzing samples to do quality control. Some chemists will spend more time varying experimental conditions to study the properties of different materials. Computational or theoretical chemists might never set foot in a lab; they would spend most of their time running computer simulations and creating/modifying computer programs to predict the results of chemical reactions and/or investigate properties of various chemicals. Environmental chemists often spend much of their time out in the field collecting samples. Some of those samples might be analyzed in the field and other samples might be stored and analyzed back in a laboratory. Someone entering the field is likely to spend a significant amount of time learning how to operate instrumentation and/or follow experimental procedures, particularly if they are working in industry. Once they have demonstrated proficiency in the tasks they have been assigned, they would be given more autonomy.
What Chemist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Daniel King: Chemistry is such a broad field that people with a wide range of skill sets have the opportunity to be successful. People who are particularly strong in math often gravitate towards careers associated with physical or analytical chemistry. People who struggle with math but have strong experimental skills can find a career in organic, inorganic or biochemistry. People who do not like laboratory work but like chemistry might find a career as a theoretical or computational chemist. Careers might involve working in an office, working in a laboratory or working outside, depending on the subdiscipline that you choose. In addition, chemistry is likely to be part of the solution to many, if not most, of the world’s biggest problems, such as climate change, health, clean water, agriculture, affordable energy, pollution. Consequently, it is unlikely that the need for chemists will be diminishing anytime soon.
What will help Chemists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Daniel King: This is also going to vary dramatically based on the type of chemistry that someone does. Many people like understanding and/or discovering what is going on at a fundamental level, and chemistry provides that opportunity. While many chemists like working in a lab, some chemists do not like lab work, due to the strong smells, the potential health hazards, and/or the repetitiveness of some of the work. Many chemists like the opportunity to learn something new on a regular basis. Some chemists like the pay, which is often good relative to some other professions. The diversity of career paths is popular among chemists. Chemists can work at traditional chemical companies making new chemicals; they can work at pharmaceutical companies to develop drugs; they can work with materials, such as printing and building materials; they can work at cosmetics companies or in the food industry; they can work to understand the environment and/or to solve environmental problems. Many chemistry students might dislike the focus on math or the heavy workload, although this is probably less of an issue for professional chemists, as someone who has become a professional chemist has hopefully chosen a subdiscipline that aligns with their interests.
What general advice would you give to a Chemist?
David Hecht Ph.D.: Do your homework and try to get within the range for the position and the level of experience.
What Chemist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
David Hecht Ph.D.: Not sure- with a solid chemistry bkg and training, graduates should be equipped to learn and adapt as needed. Soft skills are VERY important and need to be developed.
What will help Chemists increase their earning potential?
David Hecht Ph.D.: Work to stay positive and have a 'can do' attitude. Be willing to take on new tasks, responsibilities and try to go the 'extra mile'. Don't be afraid to say you do not know how to do something, but are willing to learn.
What general advice would you give to a Chemist?
Arthur Cammers: Non-academic chemists, or more broadly, molecular scientists, perform and direct laboratory work to research creative ways to develop, control quality, or improve products in manufacturing, textiles, polymer/ plastics, paints/ coatings, battery, pharmaceutical, toxicology, food, material safety/ compliance to standards or environmental analysis.
What Chemist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Arthur Cammers: There has a constant demand for chemistry skills in the job market. If you gravitate toward tinkering, math and science chemistry is an arena for your skills and curiosity.
What will help Chemists increase their earning potential?
Arthur Cammers: I can’t answer this honestly. I imagine that the answer will depend on the person, and the job situation.
Changqing Chen Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorWhat general advice would you give to a Chemist?
Changqing Chen Ph.D.: 1. Analytical skills and communication skills will become more important since they are harder to be replaced by AI. 2. If interested, try to learn some information on AI and machine learning, which will be used more in chemistry in the near future on design and synthesis of new molecules/materials, environmental chemistry, green chemistry, and chemistry education.
What Chemist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Changqing Chen Ph.D.: 1. A chemistry degree provides many opportunities for a wide variety of careers. Jobs can be found in big chemical or pharmaceutical companies, government agencies, small startup companies, as well as educational institutions. Sometimes, if you think outside the box, you can find other opportunities, such as some non-lab jobs (sales, technical support, consulting firms, etc.). If it is hard to find a permanent job you like, start with a temporary position, which might turn into a permanent position if your performance is excellent. 2. You do not need to match exactly what you learned in college with your job responsibilities. Be ready to apply the problem-solving skills you learned in new field/project. 3. Be curious, always eager to learn new skills/knowledge. 4. Be honest, learn from your mistakes.
What will help Chemists 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.
Marc Klingshirn Ph.D.
Associate Professor of ChemistryUniversity of Illinois at Springfield
Chemistry
What general advice would you give to a Chemist?
Marc Klingshirn Ph.D.: Science professions are strong, especially in the medical and environmental fields. The traditional areas of science including chemistry, biology and environmental science will continue to be relevant. That being said, with issues related to health and climate change becoming more and more prevalent and of concern, the need to understand how these traditional areas of science interplay with each other is becoming increasingly important. A single area of science is likely not going to solve the problem alone; the disciplines must work together.
What Chemist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Marc Klingshirn Ph.D.: People are drawn to science for various reasons, but many enjoy science-related fields due to the discovery aspect. Science continually to leads to new questions and subsequent answers that help us understand the world around us, which can be exciting. At the same time, that discovery leads to constant change, which can lead to frustration. We tend to like clear-cut answers that are black and white. That doesn't always happen in science. That ambiguity then has tendencies to make those outside of the profession question the validity of science, which in turn is frustrating to those who are actively engaged because they feel their work is deemed false.
What will help Chemists increase their earning potential?
Marc Klingshirn Ph.D.: This will obviously depend on the job itself, but if we consider a recent graduate with a bachelor's degree in chemistry, they will most likely be performing routine sample analysis using established protocols and procedures. Relevant data analysis will also most likely be required. Following necessary safety procedures and environmental guidelines will also be essential as some materials may be hazardous and because of relevant environmental regulations and handling needs.
What general advice would you give to a Chemist?
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.
What Chemist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Bonnie Cantrell: When I ask students and faculty what they enjoy about being a chemist, their answers are
always related to enjoying the science. This includes getting to work with lasers, making drugs,
exploding things, setting things on fire, solving problems, explaining the unexplainable, and never
knowing what you are going to find out, but enjoying the adventure. There is a thrill to science that can
be coupled with any moral cause. Those that get to choose their research have even more freedom to
structure what they do to their passions. Making the world a better place and having fun while doing it
is a goal for a lot of scientists. Being a chemist allows thousands of people to do that every day making
chemistry a very rewarding career.
With any job it is usually the work load and/or regulations that make the job less enjoyable.
Working with chemicals can be exciting, but it can also be extremely dangerous to our health and those
around us. As worker safety became more of a focus for the government, the chemical industry changed
drastically with a focus on laboratory safety. This meant more regulations and documentation. Grants
are also extremely competitive and the review process on a manuscript is very time consuming. A
majority of advanced level chemists are forced into doing more paperwork and less hands-on laboratory
science as they gain more responsibilities. Essentially the whole reason they enjoyed doing science is
buried in paperwork.
While all chemists would like more time to do science, it is their mentees that really make it
worth it. There is a pride in being able to help someone else succeed that is seen on every professors'
face when their student gets into a great school, a great job, finally figures out that problem, etc. It is
the alumni coming back and talking about the professors that inspired them to be successful in some
way. This is what gets me out of bed in the morning. The feeling of being able to do more than I
physically can myself because I am in proxy mentoring hundreds of people every year to be the best
they can be. I can fail in my life, but still have a lasting legacy and positive impact through others. That is
what makes chemistry great.
What will help Chemists increase their earning potential?
Bonnie Cantrell: When a chemist enters the job field, there is three main options for them: academia,
government, or industry. In academia, there are two types of careers: lecturers and researchers. A
lecturer position usually teaches the introductory level classes and one or two advanced level courses. A
majority of their days revolve around creating course content, setting up teaching laboratories,
mentoring students, and grading. Research professors typically teach the upper level courses in their
research specialty, but overall teach less courses than a lecturer to allow time for research. A majority of
a researcher's days include the same tasks as the lecturer, but they also work on writing grants to
continue to fund their research and edit manuscripts for journal publication of their research. Both
positions are also required to participate on committees that create the structure for the school's future
directions. Faculty entering academia all work towards becoming tenured. Those that have made it,
have job security and more confidence in their jobs.
Entry government positions and most of industry for a chemist would be a lot more directly
involved with laboratory work. The laboratory work you do though is almost always dictated by your
employer. This means you don't get to study what you are interested in, but you can focus more on the
chemistry as you don't have to teach and constantly apply for grants. Usually advancement in these
types of careers changes your day to day into more regulation and management responsibilities and less
hands-on involvement with chemicals.