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

What is a chemistry technologist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Betsy Smith,

Dr. Matthieu Rouffet Ph.D.

Chemistry Technologists are members of a chemistry group's laboratory team. They are employed by research companies with chemical laboratories. Chemistry technologists manage the equipment in these laboratories and ensure proper calibration and maintenance of each machine or equipment. They take note of each laboratory or equipment usage and check for any deviations. They may also assist in setting up the area for specific types of experiments or tests. They help out in preparing the chemicals and compounds needed by pre-measuring the needed materials, mixing reagents, and ensuring that the area is sterile. Aside from these, they also assist during the experiment itself and the analysis and interpretation of the results.

Aspiring chemistry technologists should have a degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, or any related course. They should be familiar with the different equipment and tools in the laboratory as well as with the properties of different chemicals. In addition, they should have a good foundation of chemistry components since this will help them in their role in experiments and results analysis.

What general advice would you give to a chemistry technologist?

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 TechnologistUS Average

Salary

3.6

Avg. Salary $46,569

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 9.31%

Black or African American 6.89%

Hispanic or Latino 16.40%

Unknown 4.27%

White 62.73%

Gender

female 47.19%

male 52.81%

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 technologist

Explore chemistry technologist education requirements

Most common chemistry technologist degrees

Bachelor's

75.4 %

Associate

13.0 %

Master's

6.2 %

Start to develop specific chemistry technologist skills

Skills	Percentages
Lab Equipment	7.93%
Chromatography	5.57%
Analytical Chemistry	5.24%
HPLC	4.22%
Sample Preparation	3.96%

Complete relevant chemistry technologist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New chemistry technologists 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 technologist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real chemistry technologist resumes.

Research chemistry technologist duties and responsibilities

Train in performing GLP (research testing regulate by the FDA).
Perform daily chemical production work following ISO and GMP guidelines; additionally create and monitor the production schedule.
Perform analysis of plant fluids utilizing AA, ICP, HPLC, GC, gamma spectroscopy, and liquid scintillation.
Used GC (gas chromatography) analysis to determine the amount of trans fat in salad oil, ensuring customers specifications.

Prepare your chemistry technologist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your chemistry technologist 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 technologist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

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