The everyday testing chemistry runs on happens at your bench — mixing reagents, running analyses, and measuring samples so the numbers come out right. The hands-on side of chemical analysis.
The work is bench-based and methodical: preparing samples and solutions, running instruments and tests, recording results, and keeping the lab and equipment in order. You support chemists or run routine QA. Precise technique is the whole game, and a careless measurement throws off everything downstream.
The work can be repetitive and protocol-bound, especially in routine testing labs. Pay tends to be modest, some work involves hazardous chemicals and strict safety, and the interesting calls sit with the chemists above you. Industry, environmental, and research labs change the pace and the materials.
It tends to suit people who are precise, careful, and comfortable with routine lab work. If you want creative problem-solving or fast advancement, the technician role may feel narrow. But if you like steady, hands-on work that produces solid data, it's a practical foothold in science.
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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.
The everyday testing chemistry runs on happens at your bench — mixing reagents, running analyses, and measuring samples so the numbers come out right. The hands-on side of chemical analysis.
Median pay for a Chemistry Technician is about $58K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $39K to $91K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).
Core skills for this role include Science, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Writing.
Most people in this role hold a bachelor's degree.
Employment in this field is projected to grow about 3.7% through 2034, with roughly 55,640 people working in it today (BLS).
Closely related roles include Materials Analyst, Senior Materials Analyst, and Research Technician.
Turn your career record
into a springboard for growth.