Also called: Mass Spectrometry Scientist
Weighs molecules with incredible precision to identify proteins, drugs, and pollutants.
You run instruments that smash molecules into charged pieces and sort them by weight, then interpret the patterns to figure out what's in a blood sample or a mystery chemical.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 6 years after high school. Bachelor's or master's in chemistry; PhD for research leadership.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Chemistry, Biochemistry.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years). Growth is for chemists and materials scientists overall.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI software now identifies many compounds from spectra; running instruments and hard unknowns stay human.
Classes: AP Chemistry, AP Physics, Statistics.
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.