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Chemist / Analytical Lab Tech

Career Overview

Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge.


Career Outlook


Projections 2022-2030

New job opportunities are less likely in the future. With a
7% Percent change.


2020 Employment

85,400

2030 Employment

91,100

What training is needed?

People starting in this career usually have:

  • Bachelor's Degree
  • No work experience
  • No on-the-job training

Programs that can prepare you for this career are:
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Chemical Physics
  • Cheminformatics/Chemistry Informatics
  • Chemistry, General
  • Chemistry, Other

What does a typical day look like?

  • Test quality of materials or finished products.
  • Analyze chemical compounds or substances.
  • Maintain laboratory or technical equipment.
  • Prepare compounds or solutions for products or testing.
  • Monitor operational procedures in technical environments to ensure conformance to standards.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 2055370
Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.