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Chemical Manufacturing
Dow, DuPont, BASF
Chemical Technicians
Chemical technicians run routine tests on raw materials, work-in-progress samples, and finished products to make sure they meet lab and production standards. The work is hands-on and detail-heavy: you spend a lot of time cleaning equipment, recording results, and catching small problems before they become bigger ones. The main tradeoff is that the job offers practical science work and steady demand, but it also comes with repetitive tasks, strict procedures, and little room for error.
Also known as Laboratory TechnicianLab TechnicianChemical Laboratory TechnicianQuality Control TechnicianQuality Control Lab Technician
Median Salary
$57,790
Mean $61,300
U.S. Workforce
~56K
6.7K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+3.7%
57K to 59K
Entry Education
Associate's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Chemical Technicians sits in the Science category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~56K workers, with a median annual pay of $57,790 and roughly 6.7K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 57 K in 2024 to 59K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High School Diploma with Lab Training, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Laboratory Assistant and can progress toward Laboratory Supervisor. High-value skills usually include Science, Laboratory Sampling & Quality Control, and Lab Instruments, Sterilization & Calibration, paired with soft skills such as Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, and Active Listening.
Core Responsibilities
- Test samples of materials, chemicals, or products to see whether they meet required standards.
- Clean, sterilize, and keep lab equipment in working order so test results stay accurate.
- Compare products and samples against quality rules and flag anything that falls outside the expected range.
- Record test results, build simple charts or graphs, and write up findings for chemists or engineers.
Keep exploring: more Science careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Test samples of materials, chemicals, or products to see whether they meet required standards.
02 Clean, sterilize, and keep lab equipment in working order so test results stay accurate.
03 Compare products and samples against quality rules and flag anything that falls outside the expected range.
04 Record test results, build simple charts or graphs, and write up findings for chemists or engineers.
05 Track lab supplies, place orders, and make sure needed materials do not run out.
06 Help chemists and engineers with technical tasks and show new hires how to use lab equipment safely.
Industries That Hire
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Pharmaceuticals
Pfizer, Merck, Eli Lilly
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Food and Beverage Testing
Nestlé, PepsiCo, General Mills
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Environmental Testing
Eurofins, SGS, Intertek
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Petroleum and Refining
ExxonMobil, Chevron, Marathon Petroleum
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The job has a clear entry route, with the BLS listing an associate's degree plus moderate on-the-job training, while O*NET also shows workers entering with a high school diploma or some college.
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Median pay is $57,790, which is fairly strong for a technician role that does not always require a four-year degree.
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Annual openings are projected at 6.7 thousand, so there is a steady stream of hiring even though the field is small.
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The work is varied enough to mix testing, cleaning equipment, documenting results, and helping chemists or engineers rather than doing one narrow task all day.
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The skills you build can move with you into quality control, lab operations, process work, or more advanced science roles.
Challenges
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Growth is only 3.7% through 2034, adding about 2.1 thousand jobs, so this is a stable field rather than a fast-growing one.
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The work has to be done in person around lab equipment and samples, so remote work is rare and flexibility is limited.
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A lot of the day is routine documentation, equipment cleaning, and checking specs, which can feel repetitive after a while.
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There is a real career ceiling if you stay in technician work; better pay and authority usually require moving into supervision, quality assurance, or more education.
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Routine testing is increasingly standardized and software-supported, which can make the easiest parts of the job less specialized over time.
Career Progression
Laboratory Assistant
0-2 years
$35K-$45K
You support sample prep, basic equipment cleaning, and simple recordkeeping while learning lab rules and safety procedures.
Chemical Technician
2-5 years
$52K-$67K
You run routine analyses, document results, and help keep quality checks moving; this tier includes the role's median salary of $57,790.
Senior Chemical Technician THIS ROLE
5-8 years
$68K-$82K
You handle more complex tests, troubleshoot equipment or procedure issues, and may mentor newer technicians.
Lead Chemical Technician
8-12 years
$83K-$98K
You coordinate workflows, review data quality, and keep multiple lab tasks moving for a team or production line.
Laboratory Supervisor
12+ years
$99K-$118K
You oversee lab operations, assign work, enforce quality standards, and manage training, scheduling, and compliance.
Education Paths
High School Diploma with Lab Training
This is the most common reported education level in the O*NET distribution, held by 33.34% of workers, and employers often pair it with moderate on-the-job training.
Some College Courses in Chemistry or Lab Technology
A sizable share of workers, 22.42%, report some college courses, which can help you get hired for entry-level lab work even without finishing a degree.
Associate's Degree in Chemistry, Biotechnology, or Laboratory Science
The BLS lists an associate's degree as the typical entry point, but only 0.5% of workers in the O*NET distribution report this exact level, so it is often a helpful credential rather than a universal requirement.
Laboratory or Quality Control Certificate
A short certificate can be a practical alternative if you already have science classes or hands-on experience, especially because many employers also provide moderate on-the-job training.
Key Skills
Technical
Science 82%
Laboratory Sampling & Quality Control 81%
Lab Instruments, Sterilization & Calibration 80%
LIMS, Excel & Technical Data Logging 79%
Process Monitoring & Spec Checks 78%
Test Analysis, Graphing & Report Preparation 78%
Soft Skills
Critical ThinkingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningWritingActive LearningSpeaking Job Outlook and Trends
+3.7%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
6.7K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 57K to 59 K over the next decade, representing 3.7% growth. Around 6.7 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.