Chemical technicians use laboratory instruments and techniques to help scientists analyze the properties of materials.
Chemical technicians typically do the following:
Technicians 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.
Chemical technicians held about 60,400 jobs in 2021. The largest employers of chemical technicians were as follows:
| Testing laboratories | 16% |
| Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing | 10 |
| Wholesale trade | 4 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | 3 |
Chemical technicians often work in laboratories or in manufacturing facilities. Chemical manufacturing plants make a variety of products, such as fertilizers, medicines, and soaps.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Technicians who have a bachelor’s degree may advance to become chemical engineers or chemists.
Median annual wages, May 2021
The median annual wage for chemical technicians was $48,990 in May 2021. 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 $31,980, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $80,570.
In May 2021, the median annual wages for chemical technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | $49,050 |
| Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing | 48,670 |
| Wholesale trade | 47,860 |
| Testing laboratories | 39,410 |
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.
Percent change in employment, projected 2021-31
Employment of chemical technicians is projected to grow 4 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 7,800 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.
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.
| Occupational Title | SOC Code | Employment, 2021 | Projected Employment, 2031 | Change, 2021-31 | Employment by Industry | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | ||||||
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program |
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Chemical technicians |
19-4031 | 60,400 | 63,100 | 4 | 2,700 | Get data | |
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