Chemical Technicians
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.
Chemical Technicians earn a median of $29.03/hr — about $60,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $20.07/hr; the top 10% earn $44.25/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
What you'd actually do
- 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.
How you get there
Typical entry-level education: Associate degree. Overall preparation: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).
The feel of the work
Much of the day is spent working solo; time pressure is a real part of the job; precision matters — small details carry weight. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)
Working for yourself
About 0.7% of chemical technicians are self-employed.
Who it tends to fit
This work tends to fit people who are analytical, hands-on and organized and detail-focused.
Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.Related careers
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
- Urban and Regional Planners
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
- Chemists
- School Psychologists
- Biological Scientists, All Other
Quick questions
- How much does a chemical technician make?
- The median pay is $29.03 per hour — roughly $60,500 a year, with the real range running from about $20.07/hr (10th percentile) to $44.25/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Do you need a degree to be a chemical technician?
- The typical entry-level education is: Associate degree. Overall preparation level: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).
- What does a chemical technician actually do all day?
- 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.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.