How To Become A Chemistry Laboratory Assistant: What It Is and Career Path

What is a chemistry laboratory assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Experts

Dr. Betsy Smith,

Xenia Morin Ph.D.

Chemistry laboratory assistants aid scientists by conducting chemical laboratory tests. The test results are used for numerous purposes such as research and development of drugs. Your duties include cleaning, sterilizing, and maintaining laboratory equipment, organizing and cleaning the laboratory space, and ensuring compliance with safety rules and regulations. You might also be required to monitor the inventory and stock up when supplies are sold. Plus, you will compile, interpret and document test results. Some of your documentations may include preparing graphs and charts to document experimental results.

The average chemistry laboratory assistant earns $15.56 an hour and $32,375 annually. Basic computer skills, observational skills, attention to detail, interpersonal skills, knowledge of standard safety protocol, and laboratory equipment. The most commonly required educational degree is a bachelor's degree in chemistry, biochemistry, or other related fields.

What general advice would you give to a Chemistry Laboratory Assistant?

Dr. Betsy Smith

Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Elmira College

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.

ScoreChemistry Laboratory AssistantUS Average

Salary

2.4

Avg. Salary $30,971

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

6.9

Growth Rate 4%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.41%

Asian 9.50%

Black or African American 6.82%

Hispanic or Latino 16.60%

Unknown 4.28%

White 62.39%

Gender

female 54.53%

male 45.47%

Age - 44

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44

Stress Level

6.9

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

7.5

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

6.6

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a chemistry laboratory assistant

Explore chemistry laboratory assistant education requirements

Most common chemistry laboratory assistant degrees

Bachelor's

75.1 %

Associate

10.9 %

High School Diploma

6.8 %

Start to develop specific chemistry laboratory assistant skills

Skills	Percentages
Lab Equipment	39.37%
Lab Safety	13.16%
Chemistry Lab	5.88%
Lab Experiments	4.40%
Lab Reports	2.58%

Complete relevant chemistry laboratory assistant training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New chemistry laboratory assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a chemistry laboratory assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real chemistry laboratory assistant resumes.

Research chemistry laboratory assistant duties and responsibilities

Comfort frighten patients and maintain an exceptionally bright professional demeanor to accomplish a procedure that makes most people very uncomfortable.
Prepare buffer solutions, separate DNA, dissect baby mice, and perform general lab procedures.
Facilitate placement and organization of equipment for new laboratory including HPLC, GC-MS, UV-VIS, and DSC.
Maintain GC/FID, GC/MS and LC/MS systems.

Prepare your chemistry laboratory assistant resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your chemistry laboratory assistant resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a chemistry laboratory assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Chemistry Laboratory Assistant Resume templates

Build a professional Chemistry Laboratory Assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Chemistry Laboratory Assistant resume.

Apply for chemistry laboratory assistant jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a chemistry laboratory assistant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

Average chemistry laboratory assistant salary

The average Chemistry Laboratory Assistant salary in the United States is $30,971 per year or $15 per hour. Chemistry laboratory assistant salaries range between $16,000 and $58,000 per year.

Average Chemistry Laboratory Assistant Salary

$30,971 Yearly

$14.89 hourly

How do chemistry laboratory assistants rate their job?

5/5

Based On 1 Ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Chemistry Laboratory Assistant reviews

5.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019

Pros

verification of scale and water bath . take samples . analyse

Cons

nothing really..