Also called: Nuclear Chemist
Works with radioactive elements to make medical isotopes, clean up waste, or study the environment.
You handle radioactive samples with tongs behind lead glass, separate elements, and measure their radiation. Radiochemists are in short supply as older experts retire.
Based on chemists.
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.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Chemistry, Nuclear Engineering, Physics.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years). Growth is for chemists overall; radiochemistry has a shortage of trained people.
Low risk for 10 years. Handling radioactive samples behind lead glass is hands-on, and radiochemists are in short supply.
Classes: AP Chemistry, AP Physics, 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.