We calculated that 10% of Quality Control Chemists are proficient in Raw Materials, Procedures, and QC. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Math skills.
We break down the percentage of Quality Control Chemists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Raw Materials, 10%
Performed chemical and mechanical quality control testing of raw materials and finished products related to animal feed and human food additives.
- Procedures, 8%
Tested raw materials and stability testing on pharmaceutical products and participated in validation of GC systems and performed general laboratory procedures.
- QC, 8%
Performed biochemical, immunological, and other assigned assays on in-process and finished products to determine conformance for QC approval.
- Lab Equipment, 6%
Calibrated and verified lab equipment and instruments, standardized solutions used during testing.
- Hplc, 6%
Developed new methods and performed stability testing utilizing Hewlett Packard HPLC.
- Analytical Methods, 5%
Worked with quality assurance personnel to evaluate and incorporate new analytical methods and equipment to the process.
Most Quality Control Chemists list "Raw Materials," "Procedures," and "QC" as skills on their resumes. We go into more details on the most important Quality Control Chemist responsibilities here:
The most important skills for a Quality Control Chemist to have in this position are Analytical skills. In this excerpt that we gathered from a Quality Control Chemist resume, you'll understand why: "Chemists and materials scientists carry out scientific experiments and studies" According to resumes we found, Analytical skills can be used by a Quality Control Chemist in order to "Work with pesticide analysis team to analyze and evaluate pesticide residues and food contaminants to make sure clients comply with FDA. " While it may not be the most important skill, we found that many Quality Control Chemist duties rely on Communication skills. This example from a Quality Control Chemist explains why: "Chemists and materials scientists need to communicate clearly with team members and other scientists." This resume example is just one of many ways Quality Control Chemists are able to utilize Communication skills: "Created the web trader account for FDA communication. " Quality Control Chemists are also known for Math skills, which can be critical when it comes to performing their duties. An example of why this skill is important is shown by this snippet that we found in a Quality Control Chemist resume: "Chemists and materials scientists regularly use complex mathematical equations and formulas, and they need a broad understanding of math, including calculus, algebra, and statistics." We also found this resume example that details how this skill is put to the test: "Performed qualitative and quantitative analysis of raw materials, in-process and final products for this pharmaceutical manufacturer. " A thorough review of lots of resumes revealed to us that "Organizational skills" is important to completing Quality Control Chemist responsibilities. This resume example shows just one way Quality Control Chemists use this skill: "Chemists and materials scientists need to document processes carefully in order to conform to regulations and industry procedures" Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical Quality Control Chemist tasks: "Provided formal training to new recruits based on GLP, GMP and organizational guidelines. " Yet another important skill that a Quality Control Chemist must demonstrate is "Problem-solving skills." Chemists and materials scientists research and develop new and improved chemical products, processes, and materials This is clearly demonstrated in this example from a Quality Control Chemist who stated: "Performed dissolution assays on Coumadin and other prescription drug items while maintaining FDA and GLP regulations. " Lastly, this career requires you to be skillful in "Time-management skills." According to Quality Control Chemist resumes, "Chemists and materials scientists usually need to meet deadlines when conducting research." This resume example highlights how Quality Control Chemist responsibilities rely on this skill: "Coordinate with production staff to ensure timely release of raw materials to meet project deadlines. " See the full list of Quality Control Chemist skills.
We've found that 81.5% of Quality Control Chemists have earned a bachelor's degree. Furthermore, 11.7% earned their master's degrees before becoming a Quality Control Chemist. While it's true that most Quality Control Chemists have a college degree, it's generally impossible to become one with only a high school degree. In fact, one out of every nine Quality Control Chemists did not spend the extra money to attend college.
The Quality Control Chemists who went onto college to earn a more in-depth education generally studied Chemistry and Biology, while a small population of Quality Control Chemists studied Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology and Pharmacy.
Once you're ready to become a Quality Control Chemist, you should explore the companies that typically hire Quality Control Chemists. According to Quality Control Chemist resumes that we searched through, Quality Control Chemists are hired the most by Johnson Matthey, Kelly Services, and Catalent. Currently, Johnson Matthey has 8 Quality Control Chemist job openings, while there are 8 at Kelly Services and 7 at Catalent.
If you're interested in companies where Quality Control Chemists make the most money, you'll want to apply for positions at General Electric, BWX Technologies, and Praxair. We found that at General Electric, the average Quality Control Chemist salary is $85,618. Whereas at BWX Technologies, Quality Control Chemists earn roughly $84,700. And at Praxair, they make an average salary of $84,205.
View more details on Quality Control Chemist salaries across the United States.
If you earned a degree from the top 100 educational institutions in the United States, you might want to take a look at Eli Lilly and Company, The Dow Chemical Company, and PPG Industries. These three companies have hired a significant number of Quality Control Chemists from these institutions.