Also called: Energetic Materials Chemist
Invents and tests the chemical fuels and oxidizers that rockets burn.
You mix small batches of experimental propellant behind blast shields, measure how fast they burn, and test how safe they are to handle. Safety rules are strict and taken very seriously.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 9 years after high school. PhD in chemistry or chemical engineering is typical for research roles.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Chemistry, Chemical Engineering.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years). Uses BLS chemists category; propulsion share is small.
Low risk for 10 years. AI helps predict new molecules; making and safely testing energetic chemicals stays human lab work.
Classes: AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Calculus, Biology.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-2031.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.