Careers / Chemical Technicians

Chemical Technicians — Career Decision Dashboard

United States

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Median annual wage

$60,390

United States, 2025

Employment

57,540

United States, 2025

Typical education

Bachelor's Degree

Job Zone 3

Skills identified

35

10 related careers

Career overview

Conduct chemical and physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative and quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, and gaseous materials for research and development of new products or processes, quality control, maintenance of environmental standards, and other work involving experimental, theoretical, or practical application of chemistry and related sciences.

O*NET code
19-4031.00
Job zone
3
Experience required
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years

Typical tasks

  • Conduct chemical or physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative or quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, or gaseous materials.
  • Maintain, clean, or sterilize laboratory instruments or equipment.
  • Monitor product quality to ensure compliance with standards and specifications.
  • Set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses, using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, or microscopy.
  • Prepare chemical solutions for products or processes, following standardized formulas, or create experimental formulas.
  • Compile and interpret results of tests and analyses.
  • Provide and maintain a safe work environment by participating in safety programs, committees, or teams and by conducting laboratory or plant safety audits.
  • Provide technical support or assistance to chemists or engineers.

Choose a location

Salary analysis — United States

$41,740
10th
$48,530
25th
$60,390
Median
$75,900
75th
$92,040
90th

10th percentile

$41,740

25th percentile

$48,530

75th percentile

$75,900

90th percentile

$92,040

Most important skills

  • Science4.1
  • Critical Thinking4.0
  • Reading Comprehension4.0
  • Monitoring3.9
  • Active Listening3.9
  • Writing3.9
  • Speaking3.4
  • Active Learning3.4
  • Operations Monitoring3.3
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.1
  • Learning Strategies3.1
  • Complex Problem Solving3.1

What skills do you need?

Select the skills you already have

Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.

Skill coverage

0%

0 of 20 identified skills

Matched

0

Missing

20

Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.

Skills to develop

SkillImportanceRequired levelYour levelGap
Science4.14.1Not selected4.1
Critical Thinking4.04.1Not selected4.1
Reading Comprehension4.04.1Not selected4.1
Writing3.94.0Not selected4.0
Monitoring3.93.9Not selected3.9
Active Listening3.93.9Not selected3.9
Speaking3.43.4Not selected3.4
Active Learning3.43.3Not selected3.3
Operations Monitoring3.33.3Not selected3.3
Quality Control Analysis3.13.4Not selected3.4
Judgment and Decision Making3.13.3Not selected3.3
Learning Strategies3.13.3Not selected3.3
Complex Problem Solving3.13.1Not selected3.1
Systems Evaluation3.13.1Not selected3.1
Time Management3.13.0Not selected3.0
Instructing3.03.1Not selected3.1
Mathematics3.03.1Not selected3.1
Operation and Control3.03.0Not selected3.0
Coordination3.03.0Not selected3.0
Systems Analysis3.03.0Not selected3.0

Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.

Related careers

How salary varies by location

LocationMedianEmploymentYear
Baton Rouge, LA$92,1204102025
Lake Charles, LA$88,7801502025
LA$85,8509602025
Evansville, IN$85,2302202025
Midland, MI$82,780502025
Shreveport, LA$80,410502025
New Orleans, LA$80,3902502025
Duluth, MN$80,190602025
AK$79,3801002025
Beaumont, TX$79,2903502025
DE$78,6205402025
Bay City, MI$78,120802025
Niles, MI$77,840402025
Augusta, GA$77,220902025
SC$75,0202,0802025
Bellingham, WA$73,380602025
St. Louis, MO$73,2903702025
Hagerstown, MD$73,090602025
San Francisco, CA$71,4701,0402025
Winston, NC$68,630902025
All locations with published data

Career transition paths

Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Chemical Technicians to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.

Build a transition comparison

Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0.

Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).

Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.