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Careers›Roles›Chemical Lab Tech (Chemical Laboratory Technician)
Mid-Level

Chemical Lab Tech (Chemical Laboratory Technician)

The hands-on technician who keeps a chemistry lab producing reliable results, you prepare samples, run instruments, and record data with care so the science rests on solid numbers. The steady hands behind the chemistry.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
I
R
C
S
E
A
Investigativeanalytical, curious
Realistichands-on, practical
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Chemical Lab Tech (Chemical Laboratory Technician)s
Professional Services · 56%Government · 29%Education · 4%Consumer Services · 3%Manufacturing · 2%Energy & Utilities · 2%
Job markets for Chemical Lab Tech (Chemical Laboratory Technician)s
Employment concentration · ~149 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Science
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Chemical Lab Tech (Chemical Laboratory Technician)

Daily work runs on bench tasks: prepping samples, running titrations or instruments, maintaining equipment, and logging results against methods. You work in a lab within a research or quality team. Careful, repeatable technique is the craft, and one rushed step can invalidate the result, since others trust your numbers without rechecking your work.

The honest reality is the precision and repetition the work demands: small errors void results, and the days can feel routine. Safety protocols, chemical handling, and throughput pressure are part of it. The work spans many industries and specialties, each with its own equipment and standards to learn on the job.

It fits someone careful, organized, and content with detailed, methodical work. If you want variety, creative latitude, or fast pace, bench work can feel narrow. But if you take quiet satisfaction in accurate work that real science depends on, and like the rhythm of a well-run lab, the role tends to suit, and can grow toward analysis or specialization.

What people in this role value
AchievementModerate
SupportModerate
RelationshipsModerate
RecognitionModerate
IndependenceLower
Working ConditionsLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Professional Services$92K+15%
Technology & Information$91K+13%
Energy & Utilities$82K+2%
Financial Services$81K+2%
Wholesale & Distribution$79K-1%
Compared to Science average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Chemical Lab Tech (Chemical Laboratory Technician)s (SOC 19-4042.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Science →
Chemical Lab Tech (Chemical Laboratory Technician)Haz Tech (Hazardous Technician)Field TechnicianCertified Indoor EnvironmentalistAir AnalystWater Quality SpecialistLab Technician (Laboratory Technician)Water AnalystHazardous Waste Technician (Hazardous Waste Tech)Air Pollution AuditorAsbestos MicroscopistEnvironmental Health Officer (EHO)Air Quality Technician (Air Quality Tech)Biological Lab Tech (Biological Laboratory Technician)Environmental Field Technician (Environmental Field Tech)Environmental Lab Tech (Environmental Laboratory Technician)
Exploring the Chemical Lab Tech (Chemical Laboratory Technician) career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$36K–$86K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
39K
U.S. Employment
+4%
10yr Growth
6K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$77K$74K$71K$68K$65K201920202021202220232024$65K$77K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningWritingSpeakingCritical ThinkingMonitoringScienceComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingActive Learning
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
19-4042.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midHaz Tech (Hazardous Technician)$59KmidField Technician$56KmidCertified Indoor Environmentalist$67KmidAir Analyst$71KmidWater Quality Specialist$105KseniorSenior Water Quality Specialist$105K
View all Science roles →

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.