Teamwork. Chemists and materials scientists typically work on research teams. They need to be able to work well with others towards a common goal. Many serve in a leadership capacity and need to able to motivate and direct other team members.
Writing skills. Chemists and materials scientists often write memos, reports, and research papers that explain their findings.
Advancement
Chemists typically receive greater responsibility and independence in their work as they gain experience. Greater responsibility is also gained through further education. Ph.D. chemists usually lead research teams and have control over the direction and content of projects.
Some chemists and materials scientists move into managerial positions, often as natural sciences managers. For more information, see the profile on natural sciences managers.
Pay
Chemists and Materials Scientists
Median annual wages, May 2010
Materials Scientists
$84,720
Chemists and Materials Scientists
$69,790
Chemists
$68,320
Total, All Occupations
$33,840
All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
The median annual wage of chemists was $68,320 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $39,250, and the top 10 percent earned more than $116,130.
Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of chemists in May 2010 were the following:
Federal government, excluding postal service $100,910
Research and development in the physical,
engineering, and life sciences 77,110
Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing 67,540
Testing laboratories 52,220
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state,
local, and private 49,430
The median annual wage for materials scientists was $84,720 in May 2010. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $45,810, and the top 10 percent earned more than $130,070.
Most chemists and materials scientists work full time and keep regular hours, though longer hours are not uncommon.
Job Outlook
Chemists and Materials Scientists
Percent change in employment, projected 2010-20
Total, All Occupations
14%
Materials Scientists
10%
Chemists and Materials Scientists
4%
Chemists
4%
All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
Employment of chemists and materials scientists is expected to increase by 4 percent from 2010 to 2020, slower than the average for all occupations.
Employment of chemists is expected to grow by 4 percent, as they will continue to be needed in scientific research and development and to monitor the quality of chemical products and processes.
Employment of materials scientists is expected to grow by 10 percent, owing to demand for cheaper, safer, and better quality materials for a variety of purposes, such as electronics, energy, and transportation.
Declines in employment of chemists is expected at chemical and drug manufacturers. To control costs and minimize risks, many of these companies are expected to partner with research universities and smaller scientific research and development (R&D) and testing services firms to perform work formerly done by in-house chemists. Additionally, companies in these industries are expected to conduct an increasing amount of manufacturing and R&D in other countries, further limiting domestic employment growth.
Environmental research will offer many new opportunities for chemists and materials scientists. For example, chemical manufacturing industries will continue to invest billions of dollars each year to develop technologies and processes that reduce pollution and improve energy efficiency at manufacturing facilities.
Also, the development of improved battery technologies and alternative energy sources should lead to greater demand for chemists and materials scientists. Chemists will continue to be needed to monitor pollution levels at manufacturing facilities and ensure compliance with local, state, and federal environmental regulations.
Job Prospects
In addition to job openings resulting from employment growth, some job openings will result from the need to replace chemists and materials scientists who retire or otherwise leave the occupations.
Chemists and materials scientists with advanced degrees, particularly those with a Ph.D., are expected to experience better opportunities. Large pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms provide openings for these workers at research laboratories, and many others work in colleges and universities. Furthermore, chemists with advanced degrees will continue to fill most senior research and upper-management positions.
Employment projections data for chemists and materials scientists, 2010-20
Occupational Title SOC Code Employment, 2010 Projected Employment, 2020 Change, 2010-20 Employment by Industry
Percent Numeric
Chemists and Materials Scientists
19-2030 90,900 94,900 4 4,000
Chemists
19-2031 82,200 85,400 4 3,200
Materials Scientists
19-2032 8,700 9,500 10 900
Similar Occupations
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of chemists and materials scientists.
OCCUPATION
