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.
National median · BLS
$60,390
▲ +4.5%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$63,900
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
57,540
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Chemical Technicians
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$41,740
25th
$48,530
Median (50th)
$60,390
75th
$75,900
90th — top pay
$92,040
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
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Weekly—
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Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Chemical Technicians
BLS projects employment of chemical technicians to grow 4.9% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 7,600 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
60,000 → 63,000
+3,000 jobs
Projected change
+4.9%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
7,600
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
Associate's degree
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
2.4% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 3)
Medium Preparation Needed. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
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Chemical Technicians salaries by metro area
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Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
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Skills & tools
Skills needed for Chemical Technicians
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Science4.1
Critical Thinking4.0
Reading Comprehension4.0
Active Listening3.9
Monitoring3.9
Writing3.9
Active Learning3.4
Speaking3.4
Operations Monitoring3.3
Complex Problem Solving3.1
Top knowledge areas
Chemistry3.8
English Language3.5
Mathematics3.4
Computers and Electronics3.1
Production and Processing3.0
Administrative2.9
Education and Training2.7
Customer and Personal Service2.4
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookC++LinuxMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordOracle DatabaseOracle JavaPythonRSAP softwareStructured query language SQLDatabase softwareEmail softwareLaboratory information management system LIMSSoftware development tools
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What chemical technicians do
Conduct chemical or physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative or quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, or gaseous materials.
Maintain, clean, or sterilize laboratory instruments or equipment.
Monitor product quality to ensure compliance with standards and specifications.
Set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses, using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, or microscopy.
Prepare chemical solutions for products or processes, following standardized formulas, or create experimental formulas.
Compile and interpret results of tests and analyses.
Provide and maintain a safe work environment by participating in safety programs, committees, or teams and by conducting laboratory or plant safety audits.
Provide technical support or assistance to chemists or engineers.
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Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Chemical Technicians, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $60,390.
