### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Chemical Technicians Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			chemical technicians imageChemical technicians often use laboratory equipment to help chemists and chemical engineers test chemical products.							
						Quick Facts:     Chemical Technicians2023     Median Pay
            						$56,750     per year
										$27.29     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Associate's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    Moderate-term on-the-job trainingNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    58,800Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    3% (As fast as average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    1,900What Chemical Technicians Do
                                                
                        
                        
Chemical technicians conduct laboratory tests to help scientists analyze the properties of materials.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Chemical technicians often work in laboratories or in manufacturing facilities, such as chemical manufacturing plants. Most technicians work full time.
            
                                                How to Become a Chemical Technician
                                                
                        
To enter the occupation, chemical technicians typically need an associate’s degree or 2 years of postsecondary education. Some positions require candidates to have a bachelor’s degree; others require a high school diploma. Most chemical technicians receive on-the-job training.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for chemical technicians was $56,750 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of chemical technicians is projected to grow							 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
						About 7,100 openings for chemical technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for chemical technicians.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of chemical technicians with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about chemical technicians by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Chemical Technicians Do 
            

			Chemical techniciansChemical technicians monitor and adjust processing equipment at manufacturing facilities.			
Chemical technicians use laboratory instruments and techniques to help scientists analyze the properties of materials.
Duties
Chemical technicians typically do the following:
Monitor chemical processes and test product quality to make sure that they meet standards and specifications
Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment
Maintain production equipment and troubleshoot problems
Prepare chemical solutions
Conduct, compile, and interpret results of chemical and physical experiments, tests, and analyses for a variety of purposes, including research and development
Prepare and present reports, graphs, and charts that summarize their resultsTechnicians who work in laboratories may help conduct experiments that contribute to research and development. For example, some chemical technicians help chemists and other scientists develop new medicines.
Other chemical technicians work in manufacturing, where they may assist in monitoring quality, maintaining equipment, and improving production processes.
Typically, chemists or chemical engineers direct chemical technicians’ work and evaluate their results. Most technicians work on teams, but they also may be required to work independently on projects. Experienced technicians may serve as mentors to technicians who are new to a lab or to a specific area of research.
 Work Environment
			Chemical techniciansChemical technicians typically work in laboratories or in industrial facilities.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Chemical technicians held about 58,800 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of chemical technicians were as follows:
        Chemical manufacturing
                30%Testing laboratories
                18Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences
                10Wholesale trade
                4Educational services; state, local, and private
                3Chemical technicians often work in laboratories or in manufacturing facilities. Chemical manufacturing plants make a variety of products, such as fertilizers, medicines, and soaps.
Injuries and Illnesses
Chemical technicians may be exposed to health or safety hazards when handling certain chemicals and manufacturing equipment, but there is little risk if proper procedures are followed.
Work Schedules
Most technicians work full time. Occasionally, they may have to work additional hours to meet project deadlines or troubleshoot problems with manufacturing processes. Some work irregular schedules to monitor laboratory experiments or manufacturing operations.
 How to Become a Chemical Technician

			Chemical techniciansLaboratory experience provides students with hands-on experience in using various instruments and techniques properly.			
To enter the occupation, chemical technicians typically need an associate’s degree or 2 years of postsecondary education. Some positions require candidates to have a bachelor’s degree; others require a high school diploma. Most chemical technicians receive on-the-job training.
Education
Chemical technicians typically need an associate's degree or 2 years of postsecondary education in applied science or chemical technology. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a bachelor's degree in those or related fields, such as biology or physical science. Other employers may consider candidates who have a high school diploma.
Technical and community college programs in applied sciences or chemical technology typically include courses in math, physics, and biology in addition to chemistry. Coursework in statistics and computer science is also useful for learning data analysis and modeling.
Courses that include a laboratory component provide students with hands-on practice in conducting experiments and proper use of instruments and techniques. Participating in internships and cooperative-education programs while attending school helps students gain experience.
Important Qualities
***Analytical skills.*** Chemical technicians must be methodical in conducting scientific experiments and interpreting data.
***Communication skills.*** Chemical technicians must explain their work to scientists and engineers or to workers who may not have a technical background. They often write reports to summarize their results.
***Detail oriented.*** Chemical technicians need to set up, operate, and maintain precision laboratory equipment and instruments. They also must keep meticulous records of their experiments, observations, and results.
***Interpersonal skills.*** Chemical technicians must work well as part of a team that often includes scientists, engineers, and other technicians.
Training
Chemical technicians typically receive on-the-job training from experienced technicians, who explain proper methods and procedures for conducting experiments and operating equipment. The length of training varies with the new employee’s level of experience and education and by industry.
Advancement
Technicians who have a bachelor’s degree may advance to become chemical engineers or chemists.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Chemical TechniciansMedian annual wages, May 2023Chemical technicians$56,750  Life, physical, and social science technicians$53,700  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for chemical technicians was $56,750 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $38,240, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $93,340.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for chemical technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences
                $62,900Chemical manufacturing
                61,260Wholesale trade
                56,560Educational services; state, local, and private
                55,950Testing laboratories
                45,750Most technicians work full time. Occasionally, they may have to work additional hours to meet project deadlines or troubleshoot problems with manufacturing processes. Some work irregular schedules to monitor laboratory experiments or manufacturing operations.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
               Chemical TechniciansPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Life, physical, and social science technicians4%  Total, all occupations3%  Chemical technicians3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of chemical technicians is projected to grow				 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
			
			About 7,100 openings for chemical technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Chemical technicians will continue to be in demand to test new materials and products developed by chemists and chemical engineers. They also will be needed to monitor the quality of chemical products and processes. In addition, increased demand for these technicians is expected due to greater interest in environmental issues such as pollution control, clean energy, and sustainability.
			

                        Employment projections data for     chemical technicians, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Chemical technicians**
			19-4031
			58,800
			60,700
			3
			1,900
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Chemical technicians **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of chemical technicians. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Agricultural and Food Science Technicians**
            Agricultural and food science technicians assist agricultural and food scientists.
            Associate's degree
            $47,010**Biological Technicians**
            Biological technicians help biological and medical scientists conduct laboratory tests and experiments.
            Bachelor's degree
            $51,430**Chemical Engineers**
            Chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry, physics, and engineering to design equipment and processes for manufacturing products such as gasoline, detergents, and paper.
            Bachelor's degree
            $112,100**Chemists and Materials Scientists**
            Chemists and materials scientists research and analyze the chemical properties of substances to develop new materials, products, or knowledge.
            Bachelor's degree
            $87,180**Environmental Science and Protection Technicians**
            Environmental science and protection technicians monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution and contamination, including those affecting public health.
            Associate's degree
            $50,660**Forensic Science Technicians**
            Forensic science technicians aid criminal investigations by collecting and analyzing evidence.
            Bachelor's degree
            $64,940**Geological and Hydrologic Technicians**
            Geological and hydrologic technicians support scientists and engineers in exploring, extracting, and monitoring natural resources.
            Associate's degree
            $53,440**Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians**
            Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians perform medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.
            Bachelor's degree
            $60,780**Nuclear Technicians**
            Nuclear technicians assist physicists, engineers, and other professionals in nuclear research and nuclear energy production.
            Associate's degree
            $101,740
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about chemical technicians, visit
American Chemical Society
American Chemistry Council

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Chemical Technicians
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Chemical Technicians, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/chemical-technicians.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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