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The differences between organic chemists and chemical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an organic chemist has an average salary of $76,894, which is higher than the $42,584 average annual salary of a chemical technician.
The top three skills for an organic chemist include NMR, method development and HPLC. The most important skills for a chemical technician are lab equipment, safety procedures, and hazardous materials.
| Organic Chemist | Chemical Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $76,894 | $42,584 |
| Hourly rate | $36.97 | $20.47 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 2,680 | 40,191 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
An organic chemist studies the properties of chemicals with carbon. This type of chemistry is vital for industries concerning products and services related to living organisms, such as plants, animals, and people. Pharmaceuticals, the food industry, and agriculture all require an organic chemist's skill to create and develop products suitable for living organisms. The organic chemist's role is to help in the development phase of a product, determine its effects on biological life, and note all side-effects: many companies, especially those concerned in medicine and food production.
A chemical technician is responsible for supporting chemists and laboratory technicians in performing laboratory investigations and examining chemical components and structures. Chemical technicians ensure the stability of laboratory tools and equipment, performing proper sterilization and segregation of disposable materials, and maintaining the adequacy of inventory. They also record the research progress, including scientific methods, and write observation reports for reference. A chemical technician manages the cleanliness and orderliness of the facility to avoid potential hazards and complications during chemical operations.
Organic chemists and chemical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Organic Chemist | Chemical Technician | |
| Average salary | $76,894 | $42,584 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $116,000 | Between $30,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, DE | Baltimore, MD |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Entegris | Calpine |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between an organic chemist and a chemical technician in terms of educational background:
| Organic Chemist | Chemical Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon |
Here are the differences between organic chemists' and chemical technicians' demographics:
| Organic Chemist | Chemical Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 65.7% Female, 34.3% | Male, 80.5% Female, 19.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 19.0% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 6.9% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 9% |