Chemistry
Concentrations
Certified chemist
Environmental
Forensic Science
Individually designed
Marketing/business
Pre-professional/paramedical
Approximately 100,000 chemists currently work in the U.S. The majority of these chemists are employed in manufacturing firms- mostly in the chemical manufacturing industry, which includes firms that produce plastics and synthetic materials, drugs, soaps and cleaners, paints, industrial organic chemicals, and other miscellaneous chemical products. Chemists also work for State and local governments, primarily in health and agriculture, and for Federal agencies, chiefly in the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services, and Agriculture. Others work for research and testing services, and educational institutions. Employment of chemists is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2005. In July 1997, the American Chemical Society reported that "with overall unemployment in the U.S. at its lowest level since 1973, job status and salaries of chemists improved considerably after several rough years." Some of these jobs also require education beyond a bachelors' degree.
Related Career Titles
| Analytical Chemist | Occupational Safety Specialist |
Areas of Employment
| Aerospace companies Agricultural companies Chemical distributors Chemical laboratories Chemical manufacturing plants Chemical testing / analysis companies Chemistry consulting firms Cosmetic companies Distilleries and breweries Environmental consulting firms Food and beverage companies Government Hazardous waste management corporations Health protection branches Hospital research laboratories Industrial laboratories | Mineral and metal industries Newspapers/magazines Oil companies Petroleum refineries Pharmaceutical/biotechnology industries Police laboratories Professional chemical societies Pulp and paper industries Research centers/institutes Quality control laboratories Science museums Technical libraries Textile manufacturers Utility companies Waterworks departments |
Chemistry Major Skills
| Analytical skills Attending to data Conduct research Curiosity Developing theories Follow through skills Observation and decision making Oral and written communication | Perform experiments Perseverance Process data Remain objective Science and math ability Technological skills Utilizing formulas Work independently and in groups |
Professional Organizations
American Association for Clinical Chemistry
American Chemical Society
ASU Chemical Society
