Also called: Dye Chemist, Fabric Finishing Chemist
Invents the dyes, coatings and finishes that make fabric waterproof, wrinkle-free, stain-proof or glow-in-the-dark.
You mix tiny batches of dye in beakers and soak swatches until you hit an exact shade of team-jersey red. Then you test a new waterproof coating by spraying it, washing it 50 times and checking whether water still beads up. Part of the job is finding safer chemicals to replace the old 'forever chemical' finishes.
Based on BLS chemist wages; textile-industry chemists cluster near the median.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in chemistry or textile chemistry; research roles often want a master's or PhD.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Chemistry, Textile Chemistry, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years). Chemists overall grow about average; demand for PFAS-free and sustainable finishes is strong.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI speeds formula screening; lab testing of new finishes and solving safety rules on chemicals stay human.
Classes: AP Chemistry, AP Biology, Algebra II.
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.