Forensic Chemist (Drug Analyst)

Also called: Seized Drug Chemist

Tests drugs and chemicals seized by police in a crime lab to identify and weigh them, then writes reports and testifies in court.

A day in the life

Tests a bag of white powder to confirm whether it's fentanyl, weighs it precisely, and writes a lab report for the case.

Pay over a career

Starting

$48k

Typical

$70k

High

$105k

Estimate.

Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.

Training

Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in chemistry or forensic science.

Ways in: 4-year college. Training cost: $15k – $60k.

Majors to look at: Chemistry, Forensic Science.

Outlook

Growing faster than average (about 6% over 10 years). Estimate.

Will it last? Our AI estimate

Medium risk for 10 years. Instruments and AI identify common drugs fast; the analyst who confirms results and testifies stays required.

Start now, in high school

Classes: AP Chemistry, Statistics, Algebra II.

• Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO)
• Science Olympiad Forensics
• Mock Trial

Official data: O*NET occupation 19-2031.

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• Crime Scene Investigator
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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.