Member Login Username: Password:

Currentlocaljobs
what where
job, keywords, or company city, state or zip
Job Search
Salary Information
Education Resources
Resume Help Center

My Profile

Edit My Profile Upload Resume My Career Tools

Browse Jobs

Jobs by State Jobs by Industry Jobs by Salary Jobs by Regions Jobs by Popularity

National

Median wages (2008) $31.84 hourly, $66,230 annual
Employment (2006) 84,000 employees
Projected growth (2006-2016) Average (7% to 13%)
Projected need (2006-2016) 30,000 additional employees
19-2031.00 - Chemists

Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or chemical experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge.

Sample of reported job titles: Chemist, Research Chemist, Air Quality Chemist, Analytical Chemist, Scientist, Sanitary Chemist, Product Development Chemist, Quality Control Chemist, Analytical Specialist, Environmental Chemist

Tasks

  • Analyze organic and inorganic compounds to determine chemical and physical properties, composition, structure, relationships, and reactions, utilizing chromatography, spectroscopy, and spectrophotometry techniques.
  • Maintain laboratory instruments to ensure proper working order and troubleshoot malfunctions when needed.
  • Develop, improve, and customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, and analytical methods.
  • Conduct quality control tests.
  • Direct, coordinate, and advise personnel in test procedures for analyzing components and physical properties of materials.
  • Prepare test solutions, compounds, and reagents for laboratory personnel to conduct test.
  • Compile and analyze test information to determine process or equipment operating efficiency and to diagnose malfunctions.
  • Confer with scientists and engineers to conduct analyses of research projects, interpret test results, or develop nonstandard tests.
  • Write technical papers and reports and prepare standards and specifications for processes, facilities, products, or tests.
  • Induce changes in composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy, and chemical catalysts for quantitative and qualitative analysis.

back to top

Tools & Technology

Tools used in this occupation:

Benchtop centrifuges — Chemical centrifuges; High-speed centrifuges; Tabletop centrifuges
Hematology or chemistry mixers — Automatic peptide synthesizers; Mini synthesizers
Lasers — Diode lasers; Dye lasers; Nitrogen lasers; Picosecond lasers
Spectrometers — Luminescence spectrometers; Ultraviolet-visible spectrometers
X ray diffraction equipment — Single crystal x ray diffractometers

Technology used in this occupation:

Analytical or scientific software — Agilent ChemStation; Laboratory information management system LIMS software; Waters Empower Chromatography Data Software; Wavefunction Spartan
Computer aided design CAD software — ChemInnovation Software Chem 4-D; ChemSW Molecular Modeling Pro; Hypercube HyperChem
Data base user interface and query software — ChemSW Buffer Maker; Microsoft Access; Molsearch Pro; Structured query language SQL
Graphics or photo imaging software — Digital imaging software; Graphics software; MolDraw *
Inventory management software — ChemSW Chemical Inventory System CIS; ItemTracker software; UBI Biotracker

* Software developed by a government agency and/or distributed as freeware or shareware.

19-1013.00 Soil and Plant Scientists
19-2032.00 Materials Scientists Green Occupation
19-4011.02 Food Science Technicians
19-4031.00 Chemical Technicians Green Occupation
19-4091.00 Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health Green Occupation
51-8091.00 Chemical Plant and System Operators Green Occupation