Chemists — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$91,240
United States, 2025
Employment
82,770
United States, 2025
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Job Zone 4
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge.
- O*NET code
- 19-2031.00
- Job zone
- 4
- Experience required
- Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
Typical tasks
- Develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods.
- Analyze organic or inorganic compounds to determine chemical or physical properties, composition, structure, relationships, or reactions, using chromatography, spectroscopy, or spectrophotometry techniques.
- Induce changes in composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy, or chemical catalysts for quantitative or qualitative analysis.
- Conduct quality control tests.
- Write technical papers or reports or prepare standards and specifications for processes, facilities, products, or tests.
- Maintain laboratory instruments to ensure proper working order and troubleshoot malfunctions when needed.
- Prepare test solutions, compounds, or reagents for laboratory personnel to conduct tests.
- Compile and analyze test information to determine process or equipment operating efficiency or to diagnose malfunctions.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$58,460
25th percentile
$69,460
75th percentile
$125,550
90th percentile
$160,830
Most important skills
- Science4.1
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Speaking3.9
- Mathematics3.8
- Active Listening3.8
- Writing3.8
- Active Learning3.6
- Complex Problem Solving3.6
- Monitoring3.5
- Quality Control Analysis3.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
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
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Science | 4.1 | 5.1 | Not selected | 5.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | 5.0 | Not selected | 5.0 |
| Writing | 3.8 | 4.6 | Not selected | 4.6 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 | 4.3 | Not selected | 4.3 |
| Mathematics | 3.8 | 4.5 | Not selected | 4.5 |
| Speaking | 3.9 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.6 | 4.3 | Not selected | 4.3 |
| Active Listening | 3.8 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.5 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.3 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.1 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Instructing | 3.0 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.1 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Time Management | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.0 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 | 2.8 | Not selected | 2.8 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
Related careers
Supplemental
National median $66,120
Compare with ChemistsSupplemental
National median not published
Compare with ChemistsSupplemental
National median $66,120
Compare with ChemistsHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| DC | $149,860 | 280 | 2025 |
| Washington, DC | $144,680 | 2,490 | 2025 |
| MD | $140,670 | 2,480 | 2025 |
| Bay City, MI | $132,480 | 250 | 2025 |
| Midland, TX | $131,860 | 70 | 2025 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $131,810 | 60 | 2025 |
| DE | $129,860 | 1,200 | 2025 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $128,330 | 180 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $127,790 | 2,180 | 2025 |
| Boston, MA | $127,290 | 2,960 | 2025 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $126,960 | 180 | 2025 |
| NM | $126,960 | 280 | 2025 |
| MA | $125,000 | 3,430 | 2025 |
| Palm Bay, FL | $123,840 | 50 | 2025 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $122,350 | 90 | 2025 |
| Norwich, CT | $121,770 | 210 | 2025 |
| Baltimore, MD | $118,880 | 610 | 2025 |
| Athens, GA | $117,990 | 110 | 2025 |
| San Jose, CA | $114,890 | 580 | 2025 |
| Albany, NY | $110,920 | 400 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Chemists to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer 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.