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What is a spectroscopist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a spectroscopist. For example, did you know that they make an average of $32.56 an hour? That's $67,733 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 4% and produce 2,700 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreSpectroscopistUS Average
Salary
5.3

Avg. Salary $67,733

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.9

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
8.3
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.40%

Asian 6.04%

Black or African American 7.92%

Hispanic or Latino 13.02%

Unknown 4.03%

White 68.59%

Gender

female 15.15%

male 84.85%

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 spectroscopist

  1. Explore spectroscopist education requirements

    Most common spectroscopist degrees

    Bachelor's

    58.1 %

    Master's

    22.6 %

    Doctorate

    16.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific spectroscopist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Nmr Spectroscopy31.38%
    NMR24.84%
    Chemistry19.11%
    FTIR7.47%
    Hazardous Materials5.24%
  3. Complete relevant spectroscopist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New spectroscopists 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 spectroscopist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real spectroscopist resumes.
  4. Research spectroscopist duties and responsibilities

    • Manage the QC program for custom synthesize DNA (oligomer) using laser base mass spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF).
    • Manage QC of molecular beacons by fluorescence spectroscopy.
    • Perform routine NMR maintenance, including liquid nitrogen and liquid helium fills.
    • Decrease sample evaluation times from days to hours by performing in-house IR analysis on submit samples.
  5. Apply for spectroscopist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a spectroscopist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first spectroscopist job

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Average spectroscopist salary

The average spectroscopist salary in the United States is $67,733 per year or $33 per hour. Spectroscopist salaries range between $38,000 and $118,000 per year.

Average spectroscopist salary
$67,733 Yearly
$32.56 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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