by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” - Thomas A. Edison
“Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” - Theodore Roosevelt
“Going to work for a large company is like getting on a train. Are you going sixty miles an hour or is the train going sixty miles an hour and you’re just sitting still?” - J. Paul Getty
“The world is full of willing people, some willing to work, the rest willing to let them.” - Robert Frost
“So much of what we call management consists in making it difficult for people to work.” - Peter Drucker
”Nothing is really work unless you would rather be doing something else.” - James M. Barrie
”I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.” - Thomas Jefferson
“Success in business requires training and discipline and hard work. But if you’re not frightened by these things, the opportunities are just as great today as they ever were.” - David Rockefeller
Physical chemists FACTS:
Summary, What Physical chemists do, Work Environment, How to become one, Pay, Job Outlook, Similar Occupations and Contacts for More Information.
Chemists and Materials Scientists
Summary
Chemists and materials scientists use powerful microscopes to examine the structures of substances.
Quick Facts: Chemists and Materials Scientists
2010 Median Pay $69,790 per year
$33.55 per hour
Entry-Level Education Bachelor’s degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation None
On-the-job Training None
Number of Jobs, 2010 90,900
Job Outlook, 2010-20 4% (Slower than average)
Employment Change, 2010-20 4,000
What Chemists and Materials Scientists Do
Chemists and materials scientists study the structures, compositions, reactions, and other properties of substances. They use their knowledge to develop new and improved products, processes, and materials.
Work Environment
Chemists and materials scientists work in laboratories and offices. They typically work full time and regular hours.
How to Become a Chemist or Materials Scientist
Chemists and materials scientists need at least a bachelor’s degree in chemistry or a related field. However, a master’s degree or Ph.D. is needed for many research jobs.
Pay
The median annual wage of chemists was $68,320 in May 2010. The median annual wage of materials scientists was $84,720 in May 2010.
Job Outlook
Employment of chemists and materials scientists is expected to increase by 4 percent from 2010 to 2020, slower than the average for all occupations. Chemists and materials scientists with an advanced degree, particularly those with a Ph.D., are expected to experience better opportunities.
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of chemists and materials scientists with similar occupations.
O*NET
O*NET provides comprehensive information on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
Contacts for More Information
Learn more about chemists and materials scientists by contacting these additional resources.
What Chemists and Materials Scientists Do
Most chemists and materials scientists work as part of a team.
Chemists and materials scientists study the structures, compositions, reactions, and other properties of substances. They use their knowledge to develop new and improved products, processes, and materials.
Duties
Chemists and materials scientists typically do the following:
Plan and carry out complex research projects, such as the development of new products, processes, and testing methods
Direct technicians and other workers in testing procedures to analyze components and physical properties of materials
Instruct scientists and technicians on proper chemical processing and testing procedures, such as ingredients, mixing times, and operating temperatures
Prepare test solutions, compounds, and reagents (such as acids) used in laboratory procedures
Analyze substances to determine their chemical and physical properties, such as their structure and composition
Conduct tests on materials and other substances to ensure that safety and quality standards are met
Write technical reports that detail methods and findings
Present research findings to scientists, engineers, and other colleagues
Many chemists and materials scientists work in basic and applied research. In basic research, chemists investigate the properties, composition, and structure of matter. They also experiment with the laws that govern the combination of elements and reactions of substances to each other.
In applied research, chemists create new products and processes or improve existing ones, often using knowledge gained from basic research. Chemistry research has led to the discovery and development of new and improved drugs, plastics, cleaners, and thousands of other products.
Almost all materials scientists work in applied research. They study the structures and chemical properties of various materials to develop new products or enhance existing ones. They also determine ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials for use in a variety of products. Applications of materials science include superconducting materials, ceramics, and metallic alloys.
Chemists and materials scientists use computers and a wide variety of sophisticated laboratory instrumentation for modeling, simulation, and experimental analysis. For example, some chemists use three-dimensional (3D) computer modeling software to study the structure and other properties of complex molecules that they make.
Most chemists and materials scientists work as part of a team. An increasing
