Finding a job right after you graduate can be challenging, especially with the worldwide economic crisis we face because of the pandemic.
This is why you should come up with a plan, know what to expect from the field you're interested in, and be patient with the process. Some students tend to feel desperate after one month of searching for a job. However, many are unaware that it can take up to a year to land a job in some careers and fields.
Students must know how competitive their industry or field is, learn about the different companies they could work for, understand the different rankings and their salaries, and more.
If you're a student wishing to pursue a career in science, you should learn about the companies and any laboratory where you could apply to. There is a wide range of companies and industries you could be interested in. There's engineering, lab work, cosmetic and development of products, experimental studies, forensic psychology, analytical work, and more.
In this article, you will find information about the jobs you can pursue with a Bachelor's degree in chemistry, what is the normal salary for chemists, what are some common first jobs, and how to progress your career as a chemist.
Keep in mind that there are plenty of companies you can work for with an education in chemistry and whichever job you apply to will depend on the field you're interested in.
Do you want to work with substances and materials in a lab? Then maybe you'll want to work in the development of medicines and even the development of cosmetic products. Continue reading if you are interested in pursuing a career in Chemistry in the United States.
What jobs can you get with a degree in chemistry?
If you are getting a Bachelor's degree in chemistry you're probably interested in a specific line of work and job. Many students study something in the field of science because they want a career as scientists. Maybe they want to be chemists, physicists, biologists, or even they'd like to become an engineer.
Below you will find a list of some of the most common jobs people with a Bachelor's degree in chemistry get and a little explanation of the responsibilities of each job:
- Academic researchers - these are usually graduate and Ph.D. students who want to produce original, high-level research that generates new knowledge and progresses current understanding. There can be academic researchers for different fields and with different years of experience.
- Analytical chemist - analytical chemists use their skills and knowledge of chemistry to analyze substances and materials. Some of these may be food, drugs, and other products consumed and used by humans and animals.
- Biotechnologist - in this job, you will study the genetic, chemical, and physical attributes of organisms, tissues, and cells to develop new products, technologies, and processes that will address some of the biggest problems in society.
- Chemical engineering - chemical engineers are involved in the design and development of new products from raw materials. They use their knowledge of chemical properties and reactions to transform materials from one state to another, for example making plastic from oil.
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- Forensic scientist - if want to become a scientist and a chemist but also feel passionate about crimes and solving puzzles, then you should consider a career as a forensic scientist. Forensic scientists are responsible for analyzing materials (like droplets of spit, hairs, blood) found in crime scenes and working alongside detectives to find clues and suspects.
- Nanotechnologist - this field encompasses science, physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, and computer science. Having a Bachelor's degree in chemistry won't suffice, but it can be a start. As a nanotechnologist, you’ll manipulate matter and learn to develop new materials, equipment, drugs, or diagnostic tools.
- Pharmacologist - the job of a pharmacologist is to study and investigate how drugs interact with biological systems. These scientists also carry out research to aid drug discovery and development.
- Scientific laboratory technician - a lab technician is usually responsible for making sure that all the equipment in the lab works correctly, is clean, calibrated, and cared for. They also participate in different research and help other scientists develop their thesis and hypothesis.
- School or university teacher - if education is your passion, you should consider working in different school programs as a chemistry teacher. You could be a high school, university, graduate, or Ph.D. teacher and work at the level you're at to help other students achieve their goals in the field.
Are there any specific qualifications you need to be a chemist?
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How much can you make as a chemist?
According to Google, a salary is a "fixed regular payment, typically paid on a monthly or biweekly basis but often expressed as an annual sum, made by an employer to an employee." A salary may vary depending on the company and industry you work for.
As you could see, there are plenty of jobs you can apply to with a degree in chemistry. However, you should keep in mind that many of the cool jobs we mentioned above require more skills and specializations.
For instance, if you want to become an engineer you'll also need a degree in engineering. If you feel passionate about careers like nanotechnology or biotechnology, you'll need degrees in biology, computer science, and other subjects to fulfill your dreams.
Since each industry has different requirements and each professional needs a different level of education, the salary for each job can vary.
According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the national average annual wage of a chemist is $83,850.
Keep in mind that this is a national average, not a median (the average is calculated by adding up all of the individual values and dividing this total by the number of observations, the median is calculated by taking the “middle” value, the value for which half of the observations are larger and half are smaller).
However, this average doesn't reveal the reality of many states, which is why we recommend you go check out the salary for a chemist in each state of the country on this Forbes article or go do some digging on the BLS website.
What are the top chemistry fields?
Entry-level jobs
Many students tend to remember that many skills are developed after years of experience in a job and that something they won't be able to learn in school. This is why entry-level jobs are so vital in all careers, not just for chemistry and chemists.
These jobs are designed for professionals who are starting and are still figuring out what they want to work on. A big percent of the graduated population changes careers after graduating because they didn't enjoy their entry-level jobs.
And that's why these jobs were created; to show professionals what to expect from a career in the field without having to fully commit or without being able to explore the full range of options they have.
Follow the link to learn about notable chemistry companies.
Move up the ladder
If you love your job in chemistry you can start moving up the ladder, gaining experience, and developing skills that are necessary for professionals and scientists.
Once you start getting promoted you'll see how you'll need less help than what you needed before and your full range of capacities will start to develop. Many companies have trainee programs that allow scientists to reach their potential in a matter of weeks.
When you are in university or school you feel like you learned everything. However, once you start working, you'll see how much you didn't know and how important it is for you to take advantage of the years after university.
If someway along the road you realize you don't enjoy working in a laboratory with chemical substances, you can always search for another industry and go work there. For instance, you can become an engineer and work in many different industries, or go into research and work for universities and research institutions.
Just make sure that you know what to expect for a salary in each field of chemistry and how much your work should be valued by different enterprises.
If you want to be an engineer or work on cosmetic products, you'll still need a degree or certification in chemistry if you want to earn the same percent of a salary chemists earn.
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