Chemistry

The science of substances and how they change, behind medicines, foods, flavors, plastics, batteries, and clean water.

Top pay: highest pay, longest training

• Medicinal Chemist: Designs and builds new drug molecules that could become tomorrow's medicines. Typical pay $135k.
• Process Chemist: Figures out how to make a chemical or medicine safely and cheaply by the ton instead of the gram. Typical pay $120k.
• Computational Chemist: Uses computers and quantum mechanics to predict how molecules behave before anyone makes them. Typical pay $135k.
• Battery Chemist: Invents better batteries for electric cars, phones, and the power grid. Typical pay $125k.
• Flavorist: Creates the flavors in sodas, snacks, candy, and toothpaste by mixing chemicals that trick your taste and smell. Typical pay $115k.
• Toxicologist: Figures out how much of a chemical is safe and what happens when people are exposed to too much. Typical pay $115k.

Mid pay: solid pay, degree or apprenticeship

• Chemist: Studies what substances are made of and invents new ones, from medicines to plastics to fuels. Typical pay $91k.
• Analytical Chemist: Measures exactly what is in a sample and how much, for drug safety, food testing, and the environment. Typical pay $82k.
• Polymer Chemist: Designs plastics, rubbers, adhesives, and fibers, including recyclable and biodegradable ones. Typical pay $98k.
• Perfumer: Designs scents for perfumes, shampoos, candles, and laundry detergents. Typical pay $105k.
• Cosmetic Chemist: Formulates skincare, makeup, shampoo, and sunscreen. Typical pay $85k.
• Food Scientist: Invents and improves foods, making them tastier, safer, and longer-lasting. Typical pay $83k.
• Forensic Chemist: Analyzes drugs, fibers, paint, and fire debris from crime scenes. Typical pay $70k.
• Environmental Chemist: Tracks pollutants in water, soil, and air, like 'forever chemicals' (PFAS), and how to clean them up. Typical pay $82k.
• Art Conservation Scientist: Uses chemistry to study and protect famous paintings, sculptures, and artifacts. Typical pay $88k.
• Mass Spectrometrist: Weighs molecules with incredible precision to identify proteins, drugs, and pollutants. Typical pay $95k.
• Chemical Safety Officer: Keeps chemistry labs and plants safe from fires, spills, and toxic exposures. Typical pay $85k.
• High School Chemistry Teacher: Teaches teenagers chemistry through labs, demos, and problem-solving. Typical pay $66k.
• Chemical Technician: Runs tests and experiments that support chemists in labs and chemical plants. Typical pay $56k.
• Chemistry Professor: Teaches chemistry at a college and often runs a research lab. Typical pay $93k.
• Agrochemical Formulation Chemist: Designs the recipes for fertilizers, seed coatings and crop protection products so they work in the field and stay safe. Typical pay $95k.
• Product Stewardship Specialist: Makes sure a company's chemicals and products follow safety and environmental laws around the world. Typical pay $98k.
• Adhesives & Sealants Chemist: Invents glues, tapes and sealants that hold together phones, cars, airplanes and sneakers. Typical pay $92k.
• Petroleum & Fuels Chemist: Tests and improves gasoline, jet fuel, diesel and new renewable fuels. Typical pay $90k.
• Chemical Information Scientist: Organizes the world's chemistry knowledge, turning papers and patents into searchable databases of molecules and reactions. Typical pay $85k.
• NMR Spectroscopist: Runs giant superconducting magnets that reveal the exact shape of molecules. Typical pay $95k.
• Green Chemist: Redesigns chemical products and processes so they use less energy, make less waste, and avoid toxic ingredients. Typical pay $98k.
• Ink Chemist: Invents and tests inks for pens, inkjet printers, food packaging, banknotes and even 3D-printed electronics. Typical pay $78k.

Starter: fastest way in

• Quality Control Lab Technician: Tests products like paint, food, or medicine to make sure each batch meets specifications. Typical pay $46k.
• Water Quality Lab Analyst: Tests drinking water and wastewater to make sure it's safe. Typical pay $52k.
• Fireworks Designer: Designs and launches fireworks shows, choosing chemicals that burn in different colors. Typical pay $50k.
• Brewing Lab Scientist: Uses chemistry and microbiology to keep beer, kombucha, and other fermented drinks consistent. Typical pay $52k.
• Chemistry Stockroom Manager: Keeps a school or company chemistry department stocked with safe, labeled chemicals and ready lab setups. Typical pay $52k.
• Cannabis Testing Lab Chemist: Tests marijuana and hemp products for strength, pesticides, mold and heavy metals so states can approve them for sale. Typical pay $54k.
• Oil Analysis Lab Technician: Tests used engine and machine oil for metal bits, dirt and water to warn when a jet engine, truck or wind turbine is wearing out. Typical pay $46k.

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.