Also called: Explosives chemist, Propellants engineer
Scientist who develops and tests explosives, rocket propellants, and pyrotechnics.
Energetics chemists mix tiny batches of new compounds, test them behind blast walls, and work on making munitions safer and more powerful. Jobs are at Navy and Army labs like Indian Head and Picatinny Arsenal and at contractors. It's a rare, specialized field.
Estimate based on BLS chemists (~$84k) with defense-lab premiums.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 6 years after high school. Bachelor's in chemistry or chemical engineering; many have a master's or PhD.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Chemistry, Chemical Engineering.
Growing about average. Small field; demand rising as munitions production expands.
Low risk for 10 years. AI suggests new molecules; making and testing explosives safely in the lab stays human.
Classes: AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Calculus.
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.