Also called: Ink Formulation Chemist, Printing Ink Chemist
Invents and tests inks for pens, inkjet printers, food packaging, banknotes and even 3D-printed electronics.
You mix pigments, resins and solvents in small batches, then print test strips to see how fast they dry, how they smear and whether they fade in sunlight. A snack company needs ink that is safe near food; a pen maker wants a gel that flows smoothly but never leaks on airplanes.
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, chemical engineering or polymer science.
Ways in: 4-year college. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Chemistry, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, Printing & Imaging Science.
Growing about average. Print is shrinking, but packaging, labels and printed electronics keep chemists busy.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI and lab robots can suggest and test recipes faster; solving odd printing problems for customers stays human.
Classes: Chemistry, Art or printmaking, Physics.
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.