Chemistry as it is dealing with the scientific study of matter, its properties and the changes it undergoes. Chemistry is involved in everything we do and it broadens our scope about nature. Studying chemistry leads one to one of the jobs you can get with a chemistry degree scattered in different sectors of physical, organic, inorganic, analytical, and biochemistry.
Why pursue a Chemistry degree?
If you’re reading, then I have to assume you’re pursuing a degree in chemistry or you’re looking for what to do with one. This article lectures you about the benefits and jobs you can obtain with a chemistry degree. You can get different degrees in chemistry through various institutions and science schools like an Associate degree, Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Doctorate in chemistry, Master’s degree in chemistry.
One can also further your studies in chemistry by taking massive open online courses and joining professional organisations. Skills that can be got as a certified chemist include the fields of analysis, thinking and problem solving, scientific integrity and ethics, working in a laboratory. In training, chemists gain vast knowledge through academic preparation rather than applications, therefore associate programs delve into academic inquiries, reason, logic and data to carve out vital information for the growth of science.
From undergraduate to master’s and doctorate levels, students cover calculus-based concepts of physics, research and problem-solving. chemistry degree gives you access to a high-paying role in healthcare, manufacturing, technology and biotech.
Further study is highly valued by employers, particularly within scientific and technical fields, as you’ll develop more advanced theoretical knowledge and practical sector-specific skills.
Aside from studying and understanding chemistry, one’s work experience plays a key role in securing your career in a field as a professional. Also, scouting for other areas within chemistry gives you a solid foundation in a particular profession. Many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject.
These skills mould one into a whole and well-refined chemist. There are bright careers for chemistry degree holders in many vast areas of research, marketing, the manufacturing industry, scientific inventions, and education.
Working Experience
These experience gives one an idea of various career options to explore strengthening any future job applications. Finding work in a laboratory can be difficult, you can apply for industrial placements, chemical companies as they offer formal schemes for working experience. Volunteering, finding opportunities relating to your chemistry degree could help boost your CV.
Career advancement depends on your professional performances through practical experiences and the guidelines of a supervisor.
How Do I Build a Career in Chemistry?
Deciding about your career involves good research and study. Firstly, discover what you want as a chemist; which experience gets you intrigued? What did you enjoy more about your studies?
Secondly, you must be curious, ask questions, have a mentor or a guardian in that particular career who can guide steer you through your passion point,
Lastly, you should be exceptional with your skills, work and grow yourself into a profoundly learned chemist in a chosen field.
Starting up a career in chemistry has its advantages, which pave the way to diverse opportunities in the science field. Working in the laboratory would be a great experience as a chemist although there are other avenues of experience like in the educational, agricultural and industrial sectors.
Jobs You Can Do With a Chemistry Degree
1. Academic researcher/ teacher:
These are specialized science instructors who teach the chemical properties and processes of substances under a wide variety of conditions. Chemistry teachers inform students about the uses and dangers of chemicals and how to safely conduct experiments. They are employed in schools to use their skills to groom the students about compounds, molecules etc.
The required educational level and specialization depending on the level of instruction. High school teachers generally need only a bachelor’s degree and state certification in general chemistry, while universities often require a PhD and seek instructors with specializations such as organic, inorganic or physical chemistry.
Job responsibilities of a chemistry teacher may include Understanding the curriculum, developing schedules and lesson plans for students to help them cover the required content, designing, supervising, testing weekly laboratory equipment before any experiment are conducted, ensuring the student understands and adhere to all safety rules of a laboratory, assign and evaluate all course works, working with other chemists and are willing to invest yourself in the progress of your students.
On average academic teachers/researchers earn $140,000 per year. This depends on the academic institution and their level of requirement.
2. Analytic chemist;
An analytical chemist studies and uses instruments and methods used to separate, identify, and quantify matter. Its involved in the practice of separation, identification or quantification may make up the entire analysis or be combined with another method.
An analytic chemist is involved in this practice, studying the chemical compositions and the behaviour of different substances. One is qualified as an analytical chemist with good honorary degrees in relevant courses like chemistry, applied/analytical chemistry or biochemistry.
Jobresponsibilitiesof an analytic chemist include carrying out research and analysis, analyzing and interpreting data, research and review, updated with scientific and technical development, preparing product license documentation.
On average, the salary of an analytical chemist may vary within the range of $50,000 to $80,000 annually.
3. Biotechnologist:
Biotechnologists use biological systems or living organisms to develop or create different products. Brewing and baking bread are examples of processes that fall within the concept of biotechnology. It’s also involved in the production of therapeutic proteins and other drugs through genetic engineering. A biotechnologist, therefore, makes use of biological processes to their advantage in industrial and other applications.
Job responsibilities of a chemistry teacher may include synthesizing chemicals in a laboratory, conducting research, assessing the effects of chemicals in everyday life, overseeing complex projects, maintaining lab equipment, produce reports on project development.
On average the salary of a biotechnologist may vary within the range of $75,000 – $90,000 per year.
4. Chemical engineer:
Chemical engineering is a branch of engineering that combines natural and experimental sciences, along with life sciences (such as biology, microbiology and
biochemistry) plus mathematics and economics to design, develop, produce, transform, transport, operate and manage the industrial processes that turn raw materials into valuable products.
Chemical engineers develop and design chemical manufacturing processes. They apply the principles of chemistry, biology, physics, and math to solve problems that involve the production or use of chemicals, fuel, drugs, food, and many other products.
They possess basic engineering training in mathematics and physics as well as an in-depth mastery of chemistry and biology. An Engineer is required to have earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering. Employers and professional associations require four years of related experience. Engineering candidates usually acquire experience after completing schooling.
Job responsibilities of a chemistry teacher may include making plans using detailed drawings, preparing estimates and budgets, creating accurate project specifications, designing engineering experiments, creating technical reports for customers, completing regulatory documents concerning safety issues, finishing projects on time and within budget, communicating with clients and coworkers about analysis results.
On average chemical engineers earn an annual salary of about $86,000 annually.
5. Clinical scientist, biochemist:
Biochemists explore the chemical processes within and related to living organisms. It is a laboratory-based science that brings together biology and chemistry.
Biochemistry focuses on processes happening at a molecular level. Biochemistry covers a range of scientific disciplines, including genetics, microbiology, forensics, plant science and medicine. Biochemists are scientists who are trained in Biochemistry. They study chemical processes and chemical transformations in a living organism. They work in hospitals, universities, agriculture, education, forensics etc
.Job responsibilities of a clinical scientist/biochemist may include providing new ideas and experiments, supporting our understanding of health and disease, contributing innovative information to the technology revolution, working alongside chemists, physicists, healthcare professionals, engineers and many more professionals.
6 Pharmacologist:
Pharmacologists study drugs and their effects on living systems. It involves the study of how drugs work in the body. Pharmacologists are medical scientists that create and develop new medications by studying tissue and cell samples in a laboratory.
Job responsibilities of a chemistry teacher may include developing, identifying, and testing drugs to cure, treat, and prevent diseases, designing and carrying out experiments, devising and testing hypotheses, testing drugs on cells or through clinical trials on humans, making recommendations based on findings from research and experiments, writing reports and papers, collaborating with associated staff
A pharmacologist makes roughly $90,000 a year on average.
7. Toxicologist:
Toxicology is the study of how natural or man-made poisons cause undesirable effects in living organisms. These adverse effects are harmful and damage the normal function of an individual. A toxicologist specializes in this field. He works with chemicals and other substances to determine their toxicity.
Having a degree in an appropriate scientific course like biology and biochemistry qualifies one to be a toxicologist. Toxicologists can work in various places like hospitals, environmental agencies, Health and Safety Executive, forensics laboratories and amongst others.
Their job responsibilities include evaluating the short- and long-term effects of toxic materials, researching potential harm caused by chemicals, put on lawns and the food we consume, therefore, creating safety profiles, play a vital role in ensuring harmful chemicals do not negatively affect our health or our environment, they conduct laboratory or field experiments.
8. Forensics;
Forensic Chemists apply their knowledge of chemical science in solving or proving the crime in the court of law.
Chemistry is used in forensic science to uncover information from physical evidence. In criminal cases, chemists analyze substances such as blood, DNA and gunpowder residue to determine when and by whom the crime was committed. He reaches a conclusion based on tests run on that piece of evidence.
Forensic scientists perform their functions in labs associated with a federal, state, or local police department, medical examiner’s office or in forensic services labs.
There are different branches of forensics; criminalistic, anthropology, digital science, engineering and applied sciences, general forensics, pathology etc.
These areas are essential in the development of forensics.
Their job responsibilities include overseeing and ensuring compliance with federal regulations, collecting and inputting data into relevant databases, developing and sustenance high-quality standards, providing a link between criminal investigators and the laboratory, coordinating and working hand in hand with the forensic team, reporting findings through accurate and thorough documentation, to identify and characterize a crime scene.
On average they earn an estimated amount of $79,000 annually.
9. Nanotechnologist:
Nanotechnologists manipulate matter on a near-atomic scale to produce new structures, materials and devices. They engineer structures and devices that improve and revolutionize many technological and industrial sectors.
Nanotechnologists manipulate atoms and molecules and create new materials. They specialize in areas such as medicine, technology and chemistry. Using devices called a nanometer, they could quantify nanoparticles during many of their experiments altering and designing new materials at the smallest level. They work mainly in advanced tech labs.
Nanotechnologists receive extensive education before pursuing positions in their field. Master’s degree, doctorates degrees and PhD are enrolled in this program for more experience.
Their job responsibilities include planning and conducting experiments, data collection, developing theories, working with other scientists on various projects, operating specialized equipment, creating new procedural methods, testing products and materials for functionality.
Although actual pay depends on one’s experience in the field. Material scientists in the United States earn a median annual wage of about $100,000 annually.
10. Epidemiologist:
The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations, and the application of this study to control of health problems. Epidemiologists are scientists who study diseases within populations of people.
Their job responsibilities include planning and directing studies of public health problems, collecting and analyzing information, communicating findings to health practitioners, policymakers, and the public, managing programs through planning, monitoring progress, and seeking ways to improve, supervising professional, technical, and clerical personnel.
Epidemiologists earn $60,000 per year on average.
11. Pharmacy technicians:
They work closely with pharmacists in dispensing medications to patients in hospitals, pharmaceuticals, etc.
Their job responsibilities include supplying medications to patients on prescription or over the counter, preparation of medications for patients, receiving and verifying prescriptions, pricing and filling prescriptions, getting pharmacist’s approval, completing patient paperwork related to the filling of prescriptions.
Pharmacy technicians earn $20,000 per year on average.
12. Food chemists;
This is a branch of chemistry that deals with the science behind the biochemical nature of food, their properties and how they are processed in the body. Food chemists analyze and improve the chemical composition of food.
Their job responsibilities include being involved in quality control tests, organization of organic and inorganic compounds, preparing test solutions.
On average they receive a salary range of $68,000 annually
13. Marine chemist
Marine chemistry is also known as ocean chemistry, is the study of the chemical composition and chemical processes of the world’s oceans. People that study this field of chemistry are called oceanographers.
Their job responsibilities include to improves product quality, ensuring the safety of products. Marine chemists earn within the range of $40,000 – $80,000 annually.
14. Principal scientist:
A principal scientist takes the lead in research and development on a project. He also monitors the research or progress of the study. They also work for manufacturing enterprises where they apply their skills to improve product quality and technology.
Their job responsibilities include leading and inspecting the work in progress, documentation and interpretation of scientific experiments, developing research strategies to be used, planning, designs and executing scientific experiments.
On average principal scientists earn about $110,000 – $160,000 in a year.
15. Pharmaceutical industry and sales:
They are the chemists who market products and explain the processes undergone in the product in chemical terms. A graduate of chemistry can also be in the sales department.
Their job responsibilities include educating patients about the medication they want to purchase, accessing clients needs, providing product information, deliver product samples.
On average these professionals earn about $110,000 annually
16. Material science:
The material scientist is one fascinating job role for people who hold a major in chemistry.
Their job responsibilities include improving an existing product or working to develop a new product, research on failed inventions of the scientists, work on the addition of chemical raw materials to the product.
On average material, scientists earn about $90,000 in a year.
17. Medical assistant:
Medical assistants perform clinical and administrative duties within healthcare facilities. They schedule appointments and maintain records of a patient’s personal information and medical history. They check patients’ vital signs and also assist doctors in examinations.
Their job responsibilities include gathering personal information and medical histories, taking vital signs, administering medications if allowed by state law, explaining procedures, handling basic would care.
On average medical assistants earn about $35,000 in a year.
18. Clinical laboratory technologist
Otherwise called medical laboratory scientists, these chemists collect and analyze samples of tissues, fluids, and other bodily substances. Almost all technologists work in hospitals, some in labs, physician’s offices or universities. They are highly skilled scientists who detect diseases and provide personalised data that help physicians determine the best treatment for the patient.
Medical laboratory scientists have a baccalaureate degree and have completed an accredited medical laboratory science program. To become a certified medical laboratory technician, you must earn a two-year associate’s degree from an approved program and pass a certification exam.
Their job responsibilities include examining and analysing bodily tissues and fluids, vital in the process of blood transfusion, evaluating test results for accuracy, identifying effective organisms.
On average clinical laboratory technologists earn about $40,000 in a year.
19. Cosmetic chemists
Cosmetic chemists are the scientific professionals who develop beauty products. In this role, you can understand how to plan ingredients that can benefit consumers. Here chemists understand their customers and what they want. They are normally seen in laboratories, beauty industries were their manufacture lotions, deodorants etc. for the customer’s consumption.
Their job responsibilities include research reviews on skincare, mixing raw materials to produce products, creating dye solutions, brainstorming ideas for new products, conducting pH readings, testing prototypes for quality and safety, maintaining sterile work environments during the manufacturing process.
On average cosmetic chemists earn about $80,000 in a year.
20. Geochemist;
Geochemists study the chemical composition, structure, processes, and other physical aspects of the Earth by examining the distribution of chemical elements in rocks and minerals, and their movement into soil and water systems. Job growth in this industry is at a slow and steady incline but grows with more studies.
Their job responsibilities include; to conducts and planning geochemical land surveys and fieldwork, collecting and analyzing samples of soil, rocks and sediments, interpreting data and results of field surveys and tests to produce reports and charts, writing technical reports and papers and presenting them to other engineers.
On average, geochemists earn about $100,000 annually.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, one can earn up to $100,000 annually in chemistry careers like forensic chemistry.
Yes. Chemists are in high demand and the overall employment of chemists is projected to grow by 6% by 2022
Pharmacologists, forensic chemists, chemical engineers earn the most with their average annual salaries going over $105, 000
Most students agree that physical chemistry is the hardest branch of chemistry.
Biochemistry is believed to have the highest scope in chemistry.
References
- topuniversities.com/student-info/careers-advice/what-can-you-dochemistry-degree
- bestcolleges.com/careers/science-and-engineering/chemistry/
- prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/what-can-i-do-with-my-degree/chemistry
- indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/top-chemistry-degree-jobs
- content.wisestep.com/best-careers-love-chemistry/
- glassdoor.com/blog/guide/jobs-chemistry-majors/
- sussex.ac.uk/study/careers/graduate-jobs/what-to-do-with-yourdegree/what-to-do-with-a-chemistry-degree
- mendeley.com/careers/news/careers-jobs-field/top-10-chemistry-jobs
- thebestschools.org/degrees/chemistry-degree/
