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Research chemist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected research chemist job growth rate is 6% from 2018-2028.
About 5,700 new jobs for research chemists are projected over the next decade.
Research chemist salaries have increased 8% for research chemists in the last 5 years.
There are over 60,124 research chemists currently employed in the United States.
There are 53,769 active research chemist job openings in the US.
The average research chemist salary is $75,843.
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 60,124 | 0.02% |
| 2020 | 61,869 | 0.02% |
| 2019 | 62,309 | 0.02% |
| 2018 | 63,078 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 62,958 | 0.02% |
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $75,843 | $36.46 | +2.2% |
| 2025 | $74,246 | $35.70 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | $73,538 | $35.35 | +2.9% |
| 2023 | $71,482 | $34.37 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $70,525 | $33.91 | +3.5% |
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,397 | 20% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 103 | 17% |
| 3 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 637 | 15% |
| 4 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 199 | 15% |
| 5 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 161 | 15% |
| 6 | Delaware | 961,939 | 132 | 14% |
| 7 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 736 | 13% |
| 8 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 247 | 13% |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,552 | 12% |
| 10 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,109 | 12% |
| 11 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 106 | 12% |
| 12 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 80 | 12% |
| 13 | California | 39,536,653 | 4,510 | 11% |
| 14 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 611 | 11% |
| 15 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 330 | 11% |
| 16 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 888 | 10% |
| 17 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 606 | 10% |
| 18 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 208 | 10% |
| 19 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 130 | 10% |
| 20 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 326 | 9% |
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gaithersburg | 3 | 4% | $88,504 |
| 2 | Hobart | 1 | 4% | $66,655 |
| 3 | Selma | 1 | 4% | $79,128 |
| 4 | Lake Charles | 2 | 3% | $68,699 |
| 5 | Rahway | 1 | 3% | $79,367 |
| 6 | Littleton | 1 | 2% | $72,097 |
| 7 | Cambridge | 1 | 1% | $86,453 |
| 8 | Gainesville | 1 | 1% | $56,336 |
| 9 | San Leandro | 1 | 1% | $81,280 |
| 10 | Wilmington | 1 | 1% | $98,095 |
| 11 | New York | 2 | 0% | $64,486 |
| 12 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $74,659 |
| 13 | Mesa | 1 | 0% | $64,951 |
| 14 | New Orleans | 1 | 0% | $68,162 |
| 15 | Washington | 1 | 0% | $96,292 |
Washburn University of Topeka
Pepperdine University
University of Dallas
University of San Diego
Queens University of Charlotte
California State University - East Bay
Ohio Dominican University
Georgetown University
North Carolina State University
Northern Kentucky University
Dr. Taufika Williams PhD: Finding a job at with an undergraduate degree may be quite doable but upward mobility in your career often requires a terminal degree (i.e. PhD). Stay in school for as long as you can! Some students will work in biotechnology for a few years after their undergraduate studies are over and then return to school for graduate education. The work experience can tremendously benefit graduate research.
John Richardson: Skills? Well, both hard and soft... Obviously, you will need to have the basic lab and knowledge skills that would be expected of a competent chemistry graduate. Yes, your new employer will spend time training you in the specific skills that pertain to your new job, but basic knowledge and skill sets (e.g., pipetting, calculating dilution factors, having baseline knowledge of common instrumentation) will be expected. As for soft skills, be friendly, cooperative, and curious. Extend these character traits to both your peers and supervisors. Other useful skills that my former students mention would be having some basic knowledge of business and perhaps coding.
John Richardson: Good general advice to someone just beginning in a new career would be to keep that work ethic up...Show up when you are supposed to and work the hours that you are contractually obligated to work. Of course, set firm boundaries as well. If you are going above and beyond, be sure that your supervisor is noticing and in your court to see that you are properly compensated or otherwise rewarded.
John Richardson: Maximizing salary potential comes not only from having a sound background in your chosen field (you must represent value to your company), but also through sound communication skills, both written and oral. If you can come off as a competent, confident, and well-versed candidate (asset) in the interview process, you will probably land the job! Direct, honest, and effective communication will then help you keep your job and even be considered for raises and promotions. I also like to encourage my students to broaden their skill sets and credentials while still in school: consider earning a minor in something like business, mathematics, or computer science... You never know where your future career might take you!
Aurora Clark: BS level Chemists can be employed in a variety of roles that leverage their scientific knowledge, laboratory and analytical thinking skills. As technicians in companies or government organizations they may be responsible for sample collection and analysis – for example water quality. They may also work in R&D; in industry as part of larger teams doing development of new materials or devices. On a daily basis this may include testing of different properties of materials under development or helping to design new experimental protocols/procedures to optimize synthesis or characterization. Leveraging their fundamental knowledge of Chemistry they may also work in government within interdisciplinary groups, in science policy, or may pursue science communication.
Aurora Clark: Chemistry is often called the Central Science because it intersects Biology, Physics, Math and Materials Science. As such, fundamental Chemistry knowledge is transferable and portable to a large range of public and private sectors. With artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) now actively part of the research process, Chemists are also at the intersection of Computer Science. The domain knowledge of Chemists is needed to help the Chemical industry employ AI and ML to create new therapeutics, materials, and to tackle challenges in energy production and environmental protection.
Aurora Clark: With a BS degree there will be some limitations associated with professional advancement and the ability to be a team leader.
Washburn University of Topeka
Biological And Physical Sciences
Susan Bjerke: Some of the skills that will be important in the next 3-5 years will be general critical thinking skills and the ability to adapt to changing technology. Almost all science fields are increasingly dependent on technology, so being able to learn new skills and change the way you do things in your job will be important. Being an effective communicator, both in writing and orally, is an overlooked skill in the sciences and is always an important asset.
Rachel Tan Ph.D.: Listen and be curious: ask questions (the why and how?), ask for opportunities, do extra readings outside of work. Aim for excellence: treat each assigned task as priority–go above and beyond. Connect: talk to colleagues, your boss, staff–be excited to learn from others. Be grateful: constantly reflect on the small details that led you to this point, for gratitude gives you foundation for joy during your career.
Dr. Michael Marchetti: I think it is hard to know how to maximize one's salary potential at the outset, other than being a good team player and having the skills and personality to 'fill in' and pivot as needed by an employer. With scientists, the interest in the scientific questions/problems/goals often times drive the practitioners in the discipline rather than a huge 'paycheck touchdown' type approach.
Queens University of Charlotte
Chemistry
Justin Moss: Chemistry is a good profession to enter due to its evolving and interdisciplinary nature, job demand, competitive salaries, and rewarding work.
Justin Moss: Likes: Ability to contribute positively to world advances, rewarding & intellectually stimulating work, ability to be creative. Dislikes: Investment of time to earn an advanced degree, continuous on-the-job training, amount of math involved.
Justin Moss: The primary duties of a research chemist include designing and conducting experimental procedures, preparing solutions, using specialized equipment, data analytics software, observing safety protocols, reporting work in written documents, and communicating orally in group meetings. Work is done independently and in a team setting.
Monika Sommerhalter: Know your worth and look for opportunities to grow. Set yourself professional goals, whether it is a large goal (such as getting a promotion) or smaller goals (attending a workshop to master a new skill) on an ongoing basis. Keep your resume up-to-date so that it is easier for you to apply for new job opportunities within or outside of your company.
Monika Sommerhalter: Expand and take care of your professional network throughout your career. Start by keeping in touch with your peers and mentors from university. Personal connections can help you find more job openings and professional development opportunities. If you surround yourself with a supportive professional network, your career path will also feel more rewarding.
Monika Sommerhalter: The skill of learning itself! Being able to acquire new skills will become more important as technological progress speeds up. With more automation and machine assisted analysis, more data will be generated. The ability to distinguish relevant and meaningful information from superfluous data without getting overwhelmed will therefore also matter. Communication skills will always be relevant. Research and production teams need group members who can communicate their findings in an efficient and clear manner. With respect to Chemistry: Most analytical chemistry techniques, for example High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), will remain important for many years to come, but there will always be extensions and new developments, such as Ultra(HPLC) and new chromatography materials and detection methods. Having a solid foundation and to understand the basic principles of essential laboratory techniques in Chemistry combined with a curious and open mind to appreciate or even come-up with novel developments is a great recipe for success!
Dr. Christopher Martin: Maximizing your salary potential when starting your career in the area of chemistry will be largely dependent on your ability to know your skills and the value of those skills to potential employers. Always work to gain more experience and expand your skill base. As college students, you relied on professors to determine your ability and assign grades. In a job market that is driven by digital resumes, online job applications, key skill words, and an increasing amount of changing jobs, knowing what skills you have and matching them to skills employers are looking for will dictate your worth to that company. If you know your worth and your value, you can determine if you are being fairly compensated. If you don't know your worth, don't expect to get well compensated for what you don't understand yourself.
Dr. Christopher Martin: I believe that some of the important skills that chemists will find in the field in the next 3-5 years include the ability to be self-motivated, flexible, and to be a self-learner. The increase in the use of AI, automated processes, and digital resources will ask the chemist of the future to do more than we ever imagined in the past. Being able to learn, pivot, and leverage these emerging technologies in the chemical field will separate the new chemists from the older generation and whoever is willing to learn and lead in these areas will be highly successful.
Dr. Christopher Martin: If you are a new chemistry graduate beginning your career as a chemist, understand that you are no longer going to be studying chemistry just to take a test and talk about how someone may hypothetically do chemistry. You will be expected to apply the fundamentals you learned and actually do chemistry. You may need to call upon skills in classes and labs that you didn't expect to use, and you may be trained in a new area or using new instrumentation that you have not seen before. Different fields in chemistry call on different skills, but skills are transferrable and skills will be what makes you valuable.
Mark Griep: Beginning chemists do the sorts of things that other scientists do. They start by learning the protocols for the most common procedures. Once they have demonstrated they can do the procedures reliably, they use those procedures to run tests on the materials that the company produces. Their results are needed to show that everything is safe and that the products meet the quality standards set by the company and government. They summarize their findings by writing technical reports and presenting them to their supervisors.
Mark Griep: It is a good time to become a chemist because so many new fields have opened up and the traditional fields are working to become more environmentally sensitive. The students that I've helped train have entered a wide range of fields, although most have entered the pharmaceutical and environmental fields. The public's appetite continues to grow for effective drug therapies and real solutions to fight climate change or to address the effects of climate change.
Mark Griep: I've never talked to my student trainees about the good and bad aspects of being a chemist. Personally, one of the great things about being a chemist is that nearly everyone else thinks you're a genius because they don't understand it. I suppose one of the bad things is that there is a level of danger associated with handling the chemicals. It's one of the reasons that chemists are always discussing safety protocols.
Luz Garcini PhD, MPH: Find a purpose and a meaning in their work and be open to learning from interdisciplinary fields.
Luz Garcini PhD, MPH: Interdisciplinary, commitment to diversity, flexibility in thinking and approach, fast learning of technological advances, advanced statistical knowledge and skills in mixed methodologies.
Ivica Labuda PhD: The 21st century is the century of biotechnology, which means that opportunities for a successful, impactful career in the field are there for those who go after them. Your blossoming career path may take you from the private sector, to government agencies, to academia and beyond, so taking advantage of every opportunity to gain exposure to the different sides of biotech will set you up to grasp varied and exciting opportunities.
Ivica Labuda PhD: Certainly everyone in the biotech field would benefit from having knowledge of biotechnology techniques and skills in concert with understanding the regulatory framework. That provides a good foundation so that one can interact confidently in every aspect of the biotech world. With AI progress, the next step is to add the basic understanding of the speed at which we can evolve new techniques and materials. Not everybody needs to code, but everyone needs to think about how to maximize its benefits for biotechnology.
Lucian Lucia: EACH DAY PRESENTS A WHOLE NEW SET OF AMAZING AND DIVERSE OPPORTUNITIES WHICH WE OFTEN TAKE FOR GRANTED; FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE THE CENTRAL SCIENCE AND THEREFORE PLUG INTO MEDICINE, BIOLOGY, MATERIALS, AND ENGINEERING AMONG A HOST OF DISCIPLINES IN WHICH CHEMISTRY, THE MOLECULAR SCIENCE, PLAYS A KEY ROLE. WE ARE TASKED WITH DEVELOPING OR ANALYZING CHEMICAL PHENOMENA FOR EACH OF THESE DISCIPLINES. GIVEN THAT CHEMISTRY DEALS WITH REACTIONS, MECHANISMS, AND THE MOLECULAR BEHAVIOR OF MATTER, WE TEND TO WORK AT A LAB, PILOT, OR EVEN INDUSTRIAL SCALE TO MONITOR THE EFFICIENCY, QUALITY, AND QUANTITY OF OUR REACTIONS. FOR INSTANCE, WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT PINE BARK AS A SOURCE OF VALUABLE ANTI-OXIDANTS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION AND ARE THEREFORE COLLECTING THEM, GRINDING THEM, AND METICULOUSLY EXTRACTING THE ANTI-OXIDANTS. OUR HOPE IS TO DO THIS AT A LARGE SCALE IN WHICH TONS OF BARK ARE PRE-PROCESSED IN SUCH MANNER BEFORE THEIR NORMAL FATE OF BURNING FOR FUEL OR USE AS GROUND COVER (E.G., MULCH).
Lucian Lucia: BECAUSE IT IS KEY TO SOLVING THE GRAND CHALLENGES OF HUMAN HEALTH, CLEAN WATER AND AIR, ABUNDANT AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD, AND CLEAN ENERGY. EACH OF THESE NEEDS DESPERATELY NEED SOMEONE EQUIPPED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE ONLY AVAILABLE TO CHEMISTS. AS CHEMISTS, WE WILL EXPLORE THE MATERIALS, CHEMICALS, AND PROCESSES NEEDED TO ADDRESS EACH OF THE CHALLENGES. WE WILL NOT DO THIS WORK IN A VACUUM, BUT COLLABORATE WITH ENGINEERS, BIOLOGISTS, PHYSICISTS, AND MATERIALS SCIENTISTS. WE MELD WELL IN A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM AND POSSESS A DETAILED LOGIC, KNOWLEDGE, AND POISE WHICH MAKE US AN INDISPENSABLE MEMBER OF THE TEAM. THE WORLD DESPERATELY NEEDS CHEMISTS! MOREOVER, WE MUST OVERCOME THE STIGMA IT HAS BORNE FOR MANY YEARS IN ORDER TO PROPERLY ENTICE STUDENTS OF THE HIGHEST TALENT AND INTELLECT BECAUSE IT HAS THE POWER TO CHANGE OUR LIVES.
Lucian Lucia: THIS IS A VERY LOADED QUESTION! CHEMISTS RECOGNIZE HOW IMPERATIVE IT REMAINS FOR CHANGING THE QUALITY OF OUR LIVES, YET, WE INTENSELY FEEL AND FACE THE BURDEN OF ITS IMAGE AS A POLLUTING FORCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD. IN MANY WAYS, WE HAVE BROUGHT THE BURDEN ON OURSELVES BY NOT RECOGNIZING AND EMBRACING THE POTENTIAL OF GREEN CHEMISTRY AS A FORCE FOR GOOD AND CHANGE. AS WITH ANY TECHNOLOGY, THERE ARE PROS AND CONS, BUT THE COMMUNITY OF CHEMISTRY HAS NOT SUFFICIENTLY PROVIDED A COGENT ARGUMENT FOR WHY IT SHOULD BE PURSUED BY MANY MORE STUDENTS. TODAY, MORE THAN EVER, IT HAS CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF MANY OTHER DISCIPLINES WHO DIP THEIR FEET IN IT BECAUSE IT IS SO ESSENTIAL TO MANY OF THE CHALLENGES WE ENUMERATED ABOVE. WE ARE A NOBLE PROFESSON, LIKE LAW OR MEDICINE, BUT SHROUDED IN MYSTERY BECAUSE WE DO NOT TEND TO ENGAGE IN ARGUMENTS OVERCOMING THE POLEMICS WE FACE IN SOCIETY. CHEMISTRY CAN DO A LOT OF GOOD, BUT WE NEED TO MANAGE OUR SCIENCE TO FOCUS ON ITS SUSTAINABILITY AND PROCLAIM IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS.
Isabelle Lagadic Ph.D.: My recommendation would be to have been involved in many internships, part-time jobs in industries in this field. A very successful internship may almost become the equivalent of an entry level position, and already provides a foot in the door to have access to higher level positions. Then, I would say to continue learning and take advantage of any professional development the company or organization may offer.
Isabelle Lagadic Ph.D.: I’ve met employers asking me if I could teach my students basic skills like “being on time”, “writing a proper email”, “clearly and carefully documenting their work”, “using critical thinking to stop a recording or an experiment when it is obvious that it is not working”. Those very basic skills that everyone takes for granted in addition of basic technical skills are going to become the most prevalent in the coming years. What’s scary is the collision between the inevitable advancement of Ai in this field and this lack of basic skills. It is difficult to train people on tomorrow’s skills if they don’t already master today’s skills.
Isabelle Lagadic Ph.D.: To expect a significant difference between the academic place and the workplace in terms of the work expectations, time management, independent work, having to take initiatives, etc. Many chemistry (or science majors in general) graduates think that their degree prepared them well for a job and are both disappointed and overwhelmed when they are confronted with the reality of the workplace. Not that starting at an entry level in this field is complicated, but because they haven’t been taught the skills, both technical and soft, to feel comfortable in the workplace.
Konstantinos Vogiatzis: Chemistry is a scientific field that it stands by itself, but at the same time it offers the fundamental knowledge to other disciplines such as materials science, polymers, spectroscopy, biochemistry, and agriculture. This interdisciplinary character is pivotal for many technological applications related to medicine, environment, electronics, etc.
Konstantinos Vogiatzis: The day-to-day work heavily depends on the actual position. It might include the application of analytical or spectroscopic techniques for quality control, synthesis of molecules or materials, or simply the utilization of computers for the simulation of chemical processes.
Konstantinos Vogiatzis: It’s hard to respond to this question, since chemical technology is exciting in any aspect! The chemical elements are the alphabet of a chemist, and the decillion of different combinations between them form an enormous chemical space that needs to be explored for the discovery of new, fascinating molecular structures. Modern AI is actively helping the chemist to navigate the molecular space. Some people (like me!) dislike the laborious chemical synthesis, but for others this is the true beauty of our discipline.
Kristina Stefaniak: Don’t limit yourself, have confidence that the skills and critical thinking needed to graduate with a degree in chemistry has prepared you for a wide range of positions. If there are jobs that require skills you don’t currently have, still apply knowing that you will be able to learn and grow into those positions.
Kristina Stefaniak: Say yes to things at the beginning, those exposures will lead to gaining more knowledge and additional opportunities for advancement.
Kristina Stefaniak: Some skills that are important would be the ability to communicate science clearly and effectively to all audiences, be it through TikTok, at a board meeting, or a meeting with your manager. Each audience requires a different form of science communication and knowing your goal and the way to execute it is a learned skilled. Having a knowledge of green chemistry is a critical component for all future scientists. It’s an important shift in how chemists are trained and has been supported by The American Chemical Society (ACS). Green chemistry provides a foundation that could be useful in all chemistry careers.
Kristopher Koudelka Ph.D.: Always keep learning. These fields change fast! The leading edge is always unveiling new information that can be applied to the area you are working on, and there will be new techniques developed that allow you to answer questions in more efficient ways. You must learn to regularly update yourself through conversations, reading, conferences, and trainings. This change is fun and exciting, embrace it. It will keep your job feeling new.
Dr. Jingbo Liu PhD: People in the chemistry profession often appreciate the opportunity to contribute to scientific advancement and the practical application of their work in improving people’s lives. The field offers continuous learning and the chance to work on diverse, cutting-edge projects. However, some challenges include the need for meticulous attention to detail, handling of potentially hazardous substances, and the pressure to produce results in research. Additionally, the work can sometimes be demanding and require long hours in the laboratory. Nevertheless, the satisfaction of making meaningful contributions to science and society and the intellectual stimulation provided by the field make it a rewarding profession for many.
Dr. Jingbo Liu PhD: Chemistry is a great profession to enter now because it is at the forefront of solving many global challenges. From developing new energy sources to creating medical treatments, chemists play a crucial role in advancing science and improving quality of life. Furthermore, the demand for chemists is expected to grow in various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, energy, and materials science. The ongoing technological advancements also mean chemists have access to increasingly sophisticated tools and techniques, which can significantly enhance their research capabilities. Moreover, the growing emphasis on sustainability and green chemistry presents numerous opportunities for chemists to positively impact the environment and society.
Dr. Jingbo Liu PhD: A chemist’s day-to-day tasks vary greatly depending on their specific role and field. However, everyday tasks include designing and conducting experiments, analyzing data, writing reports, and maintaining safety protocols in the laboratory. Someone entering the field might start as a laboratory assistant or technician, preparing samples, maintaining equipment, and assisting with experiments and research. They could also be involved in data analysis, using various software tools to interpret and visualize experimental results. Furthermore, they may participate in team meetings to discuss their findings and plan future research directions. It’s a dynamic and exciting field with plenty of opportunities for learning and growth.