Chemical Technicians
Also called Chemical Technician, Laboratory Analyst (Lab Analyst), Laboratory Technician (Lab Tech), or Quality Control Technician (QC Tech)
What Chemical Technicians do
Chemical Technicians conduct chemical and physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative and quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, and gaseous materials for research and development of new products or processes, quality control, maintenance of environmental standards, and other work involving experimental, theoretical, or practical application of chemistry and related sciences.
Who tends to enjoy it
Curious
People who like figuring things out, research, science, and solving problems.
Hands-on
People who like building, fixing, working with tools, machines, plants, or animals.
Organizing
People who like keeping things accurate, orderly, and running on schedule.
What you'd actually do
- Conduct chemical or physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative or quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, or gaseous materials.
- Maintain, clean, or sterilize laboratory instruments or equipment.
- Monitor product quality to ensure compliance with standards and specifications.
- Set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses, using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, or microscopy.
- Prepare chemical solutions for products or processes, following standardized formulas, or create experimental formulas.
- Compile and interpret results of tests and analyses.
- Provide and maintain a safe work environment by participating in safety programs, committees, or teams and by conducting laboratory or plant safety audits.
- Provide technical support or assistance to chemists or engineers.
A typical day involves
Skills that matter most
- Science
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Monitoring
What you'll need to know
- Chemistry
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Computers and Electronics
- Production and Processing
Where to study for this
College programs that commonly lead to this career, and how many US colleges offer each.
- Chemistry 1,371 colleges
- Chemical Technology / Technician 89 colleges
- Chemical Process Technology 15 colleges
- Analytical Chemistry 14 colleges
- Environmental Chemistry 22 colleges
- Organic Chemistry 4 colleges
- Inorganic Chemistry 1 colleges
Related careers
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA), occupation 19-4031.00, used under CC BY 4.0 and modified by Whittle. Program links: NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. How we build these pages.