Chemist; Career Information

Job Description - Chemist:

Chemists search for and use new knowledge about chemicals to improve the way we live. They develop products, such as synthetic fibers, drugs and cosmetics, and processes, including oil refining and petrochemical processing, that reduce energy use and pollution. Chemists specialize in areas such as analytical, organic, inorganic, physical and theoretical, macromolecular, medical, and materials chemistry.



Employment Facts - Chemists:

In 2008, 84,000 people were employed as chemists in the United States.


Educational Requirements for Chemists:

One who wants to work as a chemist must have, at the minimum, a bachelor's degree in chemistry. However, most research jobs in chemistry require at least a master's degree, but more often a Ph.D.Those who want to pursue careers in chemistry should take courses in science and mathematics.


Other Requirements - Chemists:

Future chemists should like working with their hands, building scientific apparatus, and performing laboratory experiments. They should also like computer modeling. The following traits are also necessary:
Perseverance;
Curiosity;
The ability to concentrate on detail;
The ability to work independently


Job Outlook - Chemists:

Employment of chemists is expected to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations through 2018.


Earnings - Chemists:

Chemists earned a median annual salary of $68,220 in 2009.
Use the Salary Wizard at Salary.com to find out how much chemists currently earn in your city.


What Do Chemists Working in Different Specialties Do?:

Analytical chemists examine and identify the elements and compounds that make up a substance in order to determine the structure, composition, and nature of that substance.
Organic chemists study the chemistry of the carbon compounds that make up all living things.
Inorganic chemists study compounds consisting mainly of elements other than carbon.
Medical chemists study the structural properties of compounds intended for applications to human medicine.
Materials chemists study and develop new materials to improve existing products or make new ones.


Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Chemists and Materials Scientists, on the Internet athttp://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos049.htm (visited May 4, 2010).
Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET Online, Chemists, on the Internet at http://online.onetcenter.org/link/details/19-2031.00 (visited November 9, 2010).