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Job outlook for chemistry professors in the United States
Are chemistry professor jobs in demand?
Chemistry professor job and salary trends over time
Chemistry professor jobs over time
Chemistry professor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 914 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 971 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 965 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 964 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 952 | 0.00% |
Average chemistry professor salary over time
Chemistry professor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $65,622 | $31.55 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $64,928 | $31.22 | - |
| 2023 | $64,928 | $31.22 | +3.1% |
| 2022 | $63,002 | $30.29 | +0.6% |
| 2021 | $62,643 | $30.12 | +2.3% |
Chemistry professor jobs by state
Most common states for chemistry professors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 76 | 11% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 57 | 9% |
| 3 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 106 | 6% |
| 4 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 51 | 6% |
| 5 | Alaska | 739,795 | 41 | 6% |
| 6 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 400 | 5% |
| 7 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 298 | 5% |
| 8 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 201 | 5% |
| 9 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 93 | 5% |
| 10 | New York | 19,849,399 | 755 | 4% |
| 11 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 161 | 4% |
| 12 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 136 | 4% |
| 13 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 125 | 4% |
| 14 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 114 | 4% |
| 15 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 41 | 4% |
| 16 | Texas | 28,304,596 | 775 | 3% |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 436 | 3% |
| 18 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 234 | 3% |
| 19 | Louisiana | 4,684,333 | 148 | 3% |
| 20 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 29 | 3% |
Most common cities for chemistry professors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cambridge | 2 | 2% | $64,682 |
Chemistry Professor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of chemistry professor experts
Kean University
North Carolina State University
Skidmore College
SUNY College at New Paltz
One University Parkway
San Diego Mesa College
What general advice would you give to a Chemistry Professor?
Alex Holte PhD: My advice for someone new to the field of academia is to learn time management skills early and learn what type of service work you find interesting and would like to contribute to. From there, learn how to say “no” to opportunities that may not align with your goals as well. I feel a lot of new professors tend to find the need to be involved in everything, which can result in burning out later in their career.
What Chemistry Professor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Alex Holte PhD: I would say being able to work with AI may be something that is more important in the next 3-5 years. Right now it’s a new technology and people are just now learning how to integrate it in the workplace, but I feel it is possible the future workforce of tomorrow will necessitate some form of being able to use AI technology.
What will help Chemistry Professors increase their earning potential?
Alex Holte PhD: When you are starting out at any career, it is important to negotiate your salary. Many candidates feel that they have to accept their first offer, but in reality, at many jobs, there is some room for negotiation. Be mindful however, to not request a salary that is much higher than what is being offered as they may feel like a compromise would not be possible and move on to the next candidate.
What general advice would you give to a Chemistry Professor?
Mia Fiore Ph.D.: First, I would tell all students that it is VERY different from teaching k-12. Unlike K-12, you are not placed in a school with a teaching job upon graduation; teaching in higher education is one of the most competitive fields, period. The next difference is that you are expected to be an expert/ master of your field. If you're also willing to accept that you will likely have to work as an adjunct professor (for low pay) first, then go for it! Teaching in higher education is the most rewarding job, especially for people who love learning.
What Chemistry Professor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mia Fiore Ph.D.: Awareness and familiarity with technology has become more important, and it will continue to be more important in the next 3-5 years. With everything from peer-reviewed journals available online, to AI, technology is an important part of higher education.
What will help Chemistry Professors increase their earning potential?
Mia Fiore Ph.D.: Maximize your salary potential by teaching at a state school- if you do you can join the PSLF program and after ten years, your student loans will be forgiven.
What general advice would you give to a Chemistry Professor?
Justin Whitehill Ph.D.: Perseverance pays off. Its worth it to pursue the career you want and not settle and be unhappy.
What will help Chemistry Professors increase their earning potential?
Justin Whitehill Ph.D.: I wouldn’t know, I’m a professor.
Jane Kuandre
Associate ProfessorWhat general advice would you give to a Chemistry Professor?
Jane Kuandre: My advice for someone looking to pursue a career in academia would be to focus on building a strong publication record, developing a network of collaborators, and continuously seeking opportunities for professional development.
What will help Chemistry Professors increase their earning potential?
Jane Kuandre: Networking is crucial for career advancement in academia as it allows individuals to establish collaborations, gain access to resources, and stay updated on the latest research trends.
Aurelie Matheron
Assistant Professor of FrenchSkidmore College
Romance Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
What general advice would you give to a Chemistry Professor?
Aurelie Matheron: Present yourself as a professional in your cover letter and interviews. The people who interview you will look at you as a future colleague and not a student. Use the past “I” to show what the future “I” will do. Meaning: in your interviews, say “I have developed X courses/projects and I have acquired X skills useful for a collaborative project at your institution. For instance, one project I will develop is XYZ.” You show your experience/expertise and how you will be using your skills. Don’t dwell too much on the “past I” and, I’d say, don’t use the past “we” => “at my former institution, we would do X or Z.” => this shows that you still view yourself as part of that community and don’t project yourself at your new institution. Once you have the job: observe the dynamics of your new work place. Meet with colleagues who also recently got a job at your institution. They will help you navigate the first year.
What Chemistry Professor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Aurelie Matheron: Leadership: you will be in positions of leading a program/department. Learn from current chairs by observing their own skills during meetings and moments of decision. Collaboration: develop interpersonal and interprofessional relationships that will allow you to build collaborative projects (interdepartmental courses, for instance).
What will help Chemistry Professors increase their earning potential?
Aurelie Matheron: Do some research online about how much someone earns at your stage of the career. If there is a significant gap, point out (diplomatically) that, because of your extensive experience in XYZ, you would like to get a X% increase in your salary. Be reasonable: if you want a 3% increase, ask for 5% (not 10% or more). Justify your negotiation: why should they pay me more? What experience can I show them to justify my request? If you have a higher offer from another place, you can say that “I have received another generous offer and would like to know about the possibility for matching that offer.” Salary is not the only thing you can negotiate: office space, computer/laptop, sabbaticals, course release, etc. Again, be reasonable: if you think you are entitled to XYZ requests, you also have to show why.
Megan Ferguson
Chair and Associate Professor of ChemistrySUNY College at New Paltz
Department of Chemistry
What soft skills should all Chemistry Professors 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 Professors?
Megan Ferguson: The breadth of chemistry knowledge and ease with laboratory equipment
What skills will help Chemistry Professors 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 Professor 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 Professors 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 Professors?
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 Professors 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 Professor 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 Professors 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 Professors?
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 Professors 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.