Chemical Technicians

Summary

Chemical technicians often use laboratory equipment, such as microscopes, to do their work.

Quick Facts: Chemical Technicians
2010 Median Pay	$42,040 per year $20.21 per hour
Entry-Level Education	Associate’s degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	Moderate-term on-the-job training
Number of Jobs, 2010	61,000
Job Outlook, 2010-20	7% (Slower than average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	4,100

What Chemical Technicians Do

Chemical technicians use special instruments and techniques to help chemists and chemical engineers in researching, developing, and producing chemical products and processes.

Work Environment

Technicians typically work in laboratories, where they conduct experiments, or in manufacturing facilities, such as chemical or pharmaceutical manufacturing plants, where they monitor production processes. Most technicians work full time.

How to Become a Chemical Technician

Chemical technicians need an associate’s degree or 2 years of postsecondary training for most jobs. Most chemical technicians receive on-the-job training.

Pay

The median annual wage of chemical technicians was $42,040 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of chemical technicians is expected to increase by 7 percent from 2010 to 2020, slower than the average for all occupations. Graduates of applied science technology programs who are well trained on equipment used in laboratories or production facilities should have the best opportunities.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of chemical technicians with similar occupations.

O*NET

O*NET provides comprehensive information on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

Contacts for More Information

Learn more about chemical technicians by contacting these additional resources.

What Chemical Technicians Do

Chemical technicians prepare chemical solutions used in laboratory experiments.

Chemical technicians use special instruments and techniques to help scientists and engineers in researching, developing, and producing chemical products and processes.

Duties

Chemical technicians typically do the following:

• Monitor chemical processes and test the quality of products to make sure that they meet standards and specifications
• Set up and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment
• Prepare chemical solutions for use in their work
• Conduct chemical and physical experiments, tests, and analyses for a variety of purposes, including research and development
• Compile and interpret results of tests and analyses
• Prepare technical reports, graphs, and charts, and give presentations that summarize their results

Most chemical technicians work on teams. Typically, they are supervised by chemists or chemical engineers who direct their work and evaluate their results. For example, some chemical technicians help chemists and other scientists develop new medicines. Others help chemical engineers develop more efficient production processes.

Chemical technicians’ duties and titles often depend on where they work. The following are the two main types of chemical technicians:

Laboratory technicians typically help scientists conduct experiments and analyses. For example, they prepare chemical solutions, test products for quality and performance, and analyze compounds produced through complex chemical processes. Other laboratory technicians analyze samples of air and water to monitor pollution levels. Laboratory technicians usually set up and maintain laboratory equipment and instruments.

Processing technicians monitor the quality of products and processes at chemical manufacturing facilities. For example, they adjust processing equipment to improve production efficiency and output. They collect samples from production batches, which then are tested for impurities and other defects. Processing technicians also test product packaging to make sure it is well designed, will hold up well, and will be good for the environment.

Work Environment

Chemical technicians wear protective clothing when handling chemicals.

Chemical technicians held about 61,000 jobs in 2010. The industries employing the largest numbers of chemical technicians in 2010 were as follows:

Chemical technicians typically work in laboratories or in industrial facilities such as chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing plants. Some chemical technicians are exposed to health or safety hazards when handling certain chemicals, but there is little risk if they follow proper procedures.

Work Schedules

Most technicians work full time. Processing technicians often work longer and later shifts than research and development technicians because many manufacturing facilities operate around the clock.

How to Become a Chemical Technician

Laboratory coursework provides students with hands-on experience in conducting experiments and in using various instruments and techniques properly.

Chemical technicians need an associate’s degree or 2 years of postsecondary training for most jobs. Most chemical technicians receive on-the-job training.

Education

For most jobs, chemical technicians need an associate’s degree in applied science or chemical technology or 2 years of postsecondary training.

Many technical and community colleges offer programs in applied sciences or chemical technology. Students typically take classes in mathematics, physics, and biology in addition to chemistry courses. Coursework in statistics and computer science is also useful because technicians routinely do data analysis and modeling.

One of the most important aspects of any degree program is laboratory time. Laboratory coursework provides students with hands-on experience in conducting experiments and using various instruments and techniques properly. Many schools also offer internships and cooperative-education programs that help students gain employment experience while attending school. That experience can enhance students’ job prospects.

Important Qualities

Analytical skills. Chemical technicians must be able to conduct scientific experiments with accuracy and precision.

Critical-thinking skills. Chemical technicians reach their conclusions through sound reasoning and judgment. They also must be able to evaluate the work of others. 

Interpersonal skills. Chemical technicians must be able to work well with others as part of a team, because they often work with scientists, engineers, and other technicians.

Observation skills. Chemical technicians must carefully monitor chemical experiments and processes. They must keep complete records of their work, including conditions, procedures, and results.

Speaking skills. Chemical technicians must explain their work to scientists and engineers and to workers who may not have a technical background.

Technical skills. Chemical technicians must be able to set up and operate sophisticated equipment and instruments. They also may need to adjust the equipment to ensure that experiments and processes are running properly.

Time-management skills. Chemical technicians often work on multiple tasks and projects at the same time and must be able to prioritize their assignments.

Writing skills. Chemical technicians must write reports that summarize their findings and results.

Training

Most chemical technicians receive on-the-job training. Typically, experienced technicians teach new employees proper methods and procedures for conducting experiments and operating equipment. Length of training varies with the new employee’s level of experience and education and the industry the worker is employed in.

Advancement

Technicians who have a bachelor’s degree are often able to advance to positions as chemists and chemical engineers.

Pay

The median annual wage of chemical technicians was $42,040 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 $26,030, and the top 10 percent earned more than $66,710.

Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of chemical technicians in May 2010 were as follows:

Most technicians work full time. Processing technicians often work longer and later shifts than research and development technicians because many manufacturing facilities operate around the clock.

Job Outlook

Employment of chemical technicians is expected to increase by 7 percent from 2010 to 2020, slower than the average for all occupations. Chemical technicians will continue to be needed in scientific research and development (R&D) and to monitor the quality of chemical products and processes. Greater interest in environmental issues, such as pollution control, clean energy, and sustainability, are expected to increase the demand for chemistry research and development.

Declines are expected in chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Many chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturers are expected to outsource their scientific R&D and testing operations to professional, scientific, and technical services firms that specialize in these services. In addition, many companies are expected to increase the amount of manufacturing done overseas, further limiting the demand for chemical technicians in those industries.

Job Prospects

As the instrumentation and techniques used in research, development, and production become more complex, employers will seek job candidates with highly developed technical skills. Job opportunities are expected to be best for graduates of applied science technology programs who are well trained on equipment used in laboratories or production facilities.

In addition to job openings created by growth, many openings should arise from the need to replace technicians who retire or leave the labor force for other reasons.

Contacts for More Information

For more information about chemical technicians, visit

American Chemical Society