Occupations/19-4031.00
Chemical Technicians
Conduct chemical and physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative and quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, and gaseous materials for research and development of new products or processes, quality control, maintenance of environmental standards, and other work involving experimental, theoretical, or practical application of chemistry and related sciences.
Usually a certificate, vocational program, or associate degree — not a bachelor’s.
AI automation risk
64%
Higher automation risk
Human characteristics
47%
Balanced human and task mix
Task orientation
71%
Higher automation risk
A day in this job
- Mostly routine
Maintain, clean, or sterilize laboratory instruments or equipment.
- Mostly routine
Monitor product quality to ensure compliance with standards and specifications.
- Task
Conduct chemical or physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative or quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, or gaseous materials.
The tasks we can read here lean routine. That sits next to the AI risk rank — it is not a forecast that the job disappears.
Core tasks
- 01Conduct chemical or physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative or quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, or gaseous materials.
- 02Maintain, clean, or sterilize laboratory instruments or equipment.
- 03Monitor product quality to ensure compliance with standards and specifications.
- 04Set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses, using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, or microscopy.
- 05Prepare chemical solutions for products or processes, following standardized formulas, or create experimental formulas.
- 06Compile and interpret results of tests and analyses.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks3.62
- Degree of automation2.50
- Time sitting2.40
- Originality (ability)3.00
- Conflict situations2.46
- Hands-on objects/tools4.00
- Outdoors / weather1.90
- Disease exposure1.53
- Decision freedom3.84
Top abilities
- Written Comprehension4.00
- Near Vision4.00
- Written Expression3.88
- Problem Sensitivity3.75
- Oral Comprehension3.75
- Information Ordering3.75
- Inductive Reasoning3.75
- Oral Expression3.62
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension4.00
- Active Listening3.88
- Writing3.88
- Speaking3.38
- Mathematics3.00
- Science4.12
- Critical Thinking4.00
- Active Learning3.38
- Learning Strategies3.12
- Monitoring3.88
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
12 of 77 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY · Private nonprofit | Chemistry, General 40.0501 | $68,200 | 4% | 96% | 1 yr $117,572 2 yr — Doctoral · CIP 40.05 |
Stanford University Stanford, CA · Private nonprofit | Chemistry, General 40.0501 | $62,400 | 4% | 96% | 1 yr $111,996 2 yr — Doctoral · CIP 40.05 |
The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL · Public | Chemistry, General 40.0501 | $11,900 | 80% | 73% | 1 yr $66,171 2 yr $52,733 Doctoral · CIP 40.05 |
Texas State Technical College Waco, TX · Public | Chemistry, General 40.0501 | $7,200 | 100% | 45% | 1 yr — 2 yr $57,318 Bachelor's · CIP 40.05 |
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA · Public | Chemistry, General 40.0501 | $11,800 | 17% | 91% | 1 yr $55,964 2 yr — Doctoral · CIP 40.05 |
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College Chicago, IL · Public | Chemistry, General 40.0501 | $4,600 | 100% | 27% | 1 yr $53,810 2 yr $44,971 Bachelor's · CIP 40.05 |
University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA · Public | Chemistry, General 40.0501 | $13,800 | 9% | 92% | 1 yr $51,106 2 yr $41,193 Bachelor's · CIP 40.05 |
Houston Community College Houston, TX · Public | Chemistry, General 40.0501 | $4,300 | 100% | 24% | 1 yr $50,060 2 yr $51,106 Bachelor's · CIP 40.05 |
The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX · Public | Chemistry, General 40.0501 | $14,600 | 65% | 73% | 1 yr $48,432 2 yr — Bachelor's · CIP 40.05 |
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI · Public | Chemistry, General 40.0501 | $17,700 | 18% | 93% | 1 yr $47,260 2 yr $38,289 Bachelor's · CIP 40.05 |
Lincoln College of Technology-Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN · Private for-profit | Chemistry, General 40.0501 | $18,600 | 100% | 64% | 1 yr $47,260 2 yr $36,941 Bachelor's · CIP 40.05 |
University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO · Public | Chemistry, General 40.0501 | $13,600 | 81% | 72% | 1 yr $46,673 2 yr $42,682 Bachelor's · CIP 40.05 |