Occupation Profile

Industries Employing

Chemists

(SOC Code : 19-2031)

in California

Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or chemical experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge. Exclude "Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers" (19-2042) and "Biochemists and Biophysicists" (19-1021).

Employers are usually looking for candidates with a Bachelor's degree .

Occupational Wages

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Area	Year	Period	Hourly Mean	Hourly by Percentile
				25th	Median	75th
California	2023	1st Qtr	$48.37	$31.69	$44.54	$62.03

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Occupational Projections of Employment (also called "Outlook" or "Demand")

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Area	Estimated Year-Projected Year	Employment		Employment Change		Total Job Openings
		Estimated	Projected	Number	Percent
California	2018 - 2028	10,600	11,800	1,200	11.3	11,280

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Job Openings from JobCentral National Labor Exchange

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Enter a Zip Code Find a Zip code in California

Within miles of Zip Code.

Possible Licenses Required and Issuing Authority

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License Title

License Authority

Clinical Chemist Scientist

California Department of Public Health
Laboratory Field Services
Personnel Licensing section
http://www.cdph.ca.gov

About Licenses

Industries Employing This Occupation (click on Industry Title to View Employers List)

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Industry Title

Number of Employers in State of California

Percent of Total
Employment for Occupation in State of California

Scientific Research and Developm

12,892

22.6%

Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manu

676

20.4%

Private Colleges, Universities, an

1,519

15.3%

Architectural, Engineering, and Re

18,707

8.2%

Employment Services

5,110

5.3%

Beverage and Tobacco Product Manuf

4,308

2.3%

Soap, Cleaning Compound, and Toi

275

2.1%

Navigational, Measuring, Electro

1,508

1.3%

Management, Scientific, and Tech

34,677

1.1%

About Staffing Patterns

Training Programs (click on title for more information)

Program Title

Environmental Chemistry

About Training & Apprenticeships

About This Occupation (from O*NET - The Occupation Information Network)

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Top Tasks (Specific duties and responsibilities of this job.)

Analyze organic or inorganic compounds to determine chemical or physical properties, composition, structure, relationships, or reactions, using chromatography, spectroscopy, or spectrophotometry techniques.

Conduct quality control tests.

Maintain laboratory instruments to ensure proper working order and troubleshoot malfunctions when needed.

Prepare test solutions, compounds, or reagents for laboratory personnel to conduct tests.

Induce changes in composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy, or chemical catalysts for quantitative or qualitative analysis.

Evaluate laboratory safety procedures to ensure compliance with standards or to make improvements as needed.

Compile and analyze test information to determine process or equipment operating efficiency or to diagnose malfunctions.

Write technical papers or reports or prepare standards and specifications for processes, facilities, products, or tests.

Confer with scientists or engineers to conduct analyses of research projects, interpret test results, or develop nonstandard tests.

Develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods.

More Tasks for Chemists

Top Skills used in this Job

Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.

Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

More Skills for Chemists

Top Abilities (Attributes of the person that influence performance in this job.)

Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.

Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

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Top Work Values (Aspects of this job that create satisfaction.)

Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.

Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions.

More WorkValues for Chemists

Top Interests (The types of activities someone in this job would like.)

Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

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Alternate Titles

Research Chemists; and Research and Development Chemists