Chemical Technicians: Job Description
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.
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The Daily Work of Chemical Technicians Do?
The core tasks performed by chemical technicians cover:
- 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.
- Provide and maintain a safe work environment by participating in safety programs, committees, or teams and by conducting laboratory or plant safety audits.
- Provide technical support or assistance to chemists or engineers.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective chemical technicians draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Other Chemical Technicians Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Analysis Tester
- Analytical Laboratory Technician (Analytical Lab Technician)
- Analytical Technician
- Assayer
- Bleach Analyst
- Chemical Analyst
- Chemical Analytical Sampler
- Chemical Dependency Technician (Chemical Dependency Tech)
Job Outlook
There are about 121,867 chemical technicians working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +11.6% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Chemical Technicians Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $60,181 |
| Hourly median | $28.93 |
| 10th percentile | $43,045 |
| 25th percentile | $51,613 |
| 75th percentile | $68,749 |
| 90th percentile | $77,318 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Chemical Technicians Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | $83,480 |
| Delaware | $64,930 |
| Massachusetts | $64,920 |
| Colorado | $64,540 |
| Texas | $64,520 |
| Oklahoma | $63,880 |
| West Virginia | $63,820 |
| Arizona | $63,030 |
| New Mexico | $62,610 |
| Illinois | $61,830 |
| Alaska | $61,380 |
| Vermont | $60,930 |
| South Carolina | $59,530 |
| Nebraska | $59,180 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,130 |
| Missouri | $58,690 |
| New York | $57,720 |
| Michigan | $57,680 |
| New Jersey | $57,640 |
| Wisconsin | $56,960 |
| California | $56,620 |
| Washington | $55,940 |
| Kansas | $55,480 |
| Idaho | $55,060 |
| Kentucky | $55,010 |
| Ohio | $54,710 |
| Minnesota | $54,340 |
| Mississippi | $54,100 |
| North Dakota | $53,270 |
| Utah | $52,890 |
| Alabama | $52,680 |
| Wyoming | $52,520 |
| Iowa | $52,200 |
| Indiana | $51,980 |
| Georgia | $51,840 |
| Tennessee | $51,030 |
| Connecticut | $50,910 |
| Virginia | $50,660 |
| Nevada | $50,250 |
| Montana | $50,160 |
| Oregon | $49,920 |
| Rhode Island | $49,720 |
| North Carolina | $48,870 |
| District of Columbia | $48,740 |
| South Dakota | $47,970 |
| Maryland | $47,760 |
| Maine | $47,340 |
| New Hampshire | $47,240 |
| Florida | $46,870 |
| Arkansas | $46,720 |
| Puerto Rico | $34,470 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for chemical technicians differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest | $64,343 | 13.8% | 1.23 |
| New England | $60,708 | 5.6% | 1.41 |
| Rocky Mountains | $58,111 | 4.4% | 1.23 |
| Middle Atlantic | $57,596 | 18.0% | 1.53 |
| Great Lakes | $56,479 | 15.1% | 1.16 |
| Far Western US | $55,716 | 15.4% | 1.00 |
| Plains States | $55,611 | 4.7% | 0.70 |
| Southeast | $54,153 | 21.1% | 1.04 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dothan, AL | AL | $128,190 | 30 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | LA | $88,800 | 240 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | LA | $86,360 | 390 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | TX | $83,530 | 300 |
| Lake Charles, LA | LA | $81,710 | 110 |
| Springfield, MA | MA | $81,070 | 140 |
| Midland, MI | MI | $77,810 | 110 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | TX | $75,890 | 150 |
Industry Breakdown
Most chemical technicians work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 24,110 | $59,760 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 17,930 | $50,290 |
| Wholesale Trade | 2,620 | $58,460 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 2,320 | $48,720 |
| Educational Services | 2,030 | $57,550 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 1,580 | $61,730 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 1,080 | $64,900 |
| Utilities | 730 | $98,700 |
Below are examples of industries where chemical technicians work:
Tools and Technology
- Object or component oriented development software: C++ (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Linux (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Oracle Database (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: Oracle Java (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: Python (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: R (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for chemical technicians is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Exposed to Contaminants
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level chemical technicians positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Chemical Engineers (Primary-Short)
- Industrial Engineers (Supplemental)
- Materials Engineers (Supplemental)
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
- Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Short)
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
- Calibration Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Short)
Degree Programs
Future chemical technicians commonly pursue programs in:
Physical Sciences
5 programs across 1 majors
Science Technologies/Technicians
2 programs across 1 majors
Sources
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 19-4031.00 (Chemical Technicians).
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