Chemist
Chemists conduct research and experiments to analyze the composition, structure, and properties of substances and their chemical reactions. They develop new products and processes for industries including pharmaceuticals, materials, energy, and agriculture. The BLS reports a median salary of $82,360 with 6% projected growth. Specializations include analytical, organic, inorganic, physical, and computational chemistry.
A Day in the Life
A typical day starts by checking on reactions set up the previous evening and recording observations. The chemist prepares new samples using precise measurements and runs them through instruments like mass spectrometers and NMR machines. After lunch, they analyze spectral data to characterize a new compound, compare results to literature values, and document findings in an electronic lab notebook. Late afternoon involves a team meeting to plan the next phase of a drug development project.
Key Stats
Education
Bachelor's Degree
Salary Range
Entry: $50,000
Median: $82,360
Senior: $126,000
Job Growth