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Job outlook for chemistry laboratory instructors in the United States
Chemistry laboratory instructor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected chemistry laboratory instructor job growth rate is 12% from 2018-2028.
About 159,400 new jobs for chemistry laboratory instructors are projected over the next decade.
Chemistry laboratory instructor salaries have increased 5% for chemistry laboratory instructors in the last 5 years.
There are over 5,003 chemistry laboratory instructors currently employed in the United States.
There are 63,695 active chemistry laboratory instructor job openings in the US.
The average chemistry laboratory instructor salary is $50,743.
Are chemistry laboratory instructor jobs in demand?
Chemistry laboratory instructor job and salary trends over time
Chemistry laboratory instructor jobs over time
Chemistry laboratory instructor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,003 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 5,316 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 5,279 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 5,277 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 5,208 | 0.00% |
Average chemistry laboratory instructor salary over time
Chemistry laboratory instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $50,743 | $24.40 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $50,207 | $24.14 | - |
| 2023 | $50,207 | $24.14 | +3.1% |
| 2022 | $48,717 | $23.42 | +0.6% |
| 2021 | $48,440 | $23.29 | +2.3% |
Chemistry laboratory instructor jobs by state
Most common states for chemistry laboratory instructors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 167 | 19% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 116 | 19% |
| 3 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 234 | 17% |
| 4 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 126 | 17% |
| 5 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 98 | 17% |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,095 | 16% |
| 7 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 497 | 16% |
| 8 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 172 | 16% |
| 9 | Alaska | 739,795 | 115 | 16% |
| 10 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 814 | 15% |
| 11 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 812 | 15% |
| 12 | Delaware | 961,939 | 130 | 14% |
| 13 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 656 | 13% |
| 14 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 529 | 13% |
| 15 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 91 | 13% |
| 16 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,230 | 12% |
| 17 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,114 | 12% |
| 18 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,043 | 12% |
| 19 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 739 | 12% |
| 20 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 341 | 11% |
Chemistry Laboratory Instructor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of chemistry laboratory instructor experts
SUNY College at New Paltz
One University Parkway
San Diego Mesa College
University of West Georgia
Megan Ferguson
Chair and Associate Professor of ChemistrySUNY College at New Paltz
Department of Chemistry
What soft skills should all Chemistry Laboratory Instructors possess?
Megan Ferguson: Organization and good communication skills. An on-campus interview would include a mock lecture.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Chemistry Laboratory Instructors?
Megan Ferguson: The breadth of chemistry knowledge and ease with laboratory equipment
What skills will help Chemistry Laboratory Instructors earn the most?
Megan Ferguson: Different colleges will pay different salaries, but they will probably be pretty set. You're unlikely to get much of a difference in starting salary based on any particular skill - you're just more likely to get the job.
What skills stand out on Chemistry Laboratory Instructor resumes?
Megan Ferguson: Teaching experience - if coming straight out of grad school, what TA experience and what quality TA experience does the applicant have? Has the applicant done any workshops or shown other signs of being interested in pedagogy?
Keir Fogarty Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of ChemistryOne University Parkway
Chemistry Department
What soft skills should all Chemistry Laboratory Instructors possess?
Keir Fogarty Ph.D.: -Concrete evidence of oral and written communication skills
-As well as interpersonal skills, effective time management, multitasking, making effective use of limited resources
What hard/technical skills are most important for Chemistry Laboratory Instructors?
Keir Fogarty Ph.D.: -Clear evidence of scientific acumen/expertise
-Research experience either in academia or industry
-Experience with current scientific techniques/instrumentation
What skills will help Chemistry Laboratory Instructors earn the most?
Keir Fogarty Ph.D.: I think proven experience in technical chemistry environments is the main $ booster
Oscar Acevedo Ph.D.
ProfessorSan Diego Mesa College
Chemistry Department
What skills stand out on Chemistry Laboratory Instructor resumes?
Oscar Acevedo Ph.D.: Chemistry instructors need some connection to the outside world; they need to have worked in industry, or health sciences, or biotech. This allows them to tie chemistry fundamentals to real-world situations.
What soft skills should all Chemistry Laboratory Instructors possess?
Oscar Acevedo Ph.D.: Instructors need wisdom gathered from having lived through students followed by professional lives. It matters that extensive social interactions might lead to understanding student problems in assimilation, application, and resolve.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Chemistry Laboratory Instructors?
Oscar Acevedo Ph.D.: Professional careers are teeming with procedures that depend on instrumentation. The more an instructor can be familiar with Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spec, NMR techniques, X-ray crystallography, and others, the better he can explain the need and importance to students.
What skills will help Chemistry Laboratory Instructors earn the most?
Oscar Acevedo Ph.D.: The more you know, the more you will be the "go-to" person in any situation. The more technical and specialized fields like new communication materials, new methods of detection will earn the most. See all of the above.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Chemistry Laboratory Instructors to find work opportunities?
Ye Chen Ph.D.: You could go to higheredjobs.com, https://jobs.chronicle.com/, or university websites for a higher ed job, go-to company, or other organization websites (e.g., Google) industry/government jobs; or use LinkedIn, attend job fairs and professional conferences, to search for job opportunities.