Chemistry

Approximately 100,000 chemists currently work in the U.S.  The majority of these chemists are employed in manufacturing firms-  mostly in the chemical manufacturing industry, which includes firms that produce plastics and synthetic materials, drugs, soaps and cleaners, paints, industrial organic chemicals, and other miscellaneous chemical products.  Chemists also work for State and local governments, primarily in health and agriculture, and for Federal agencies, chiefly in the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services, and Agriculture.  Others work for research and testing services, and educational institutions.

Employment of chemists is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2005.  In July 1997, the American Chemical Society reported that "with overall unemployment in the U.S. at its lowest level since 1973, job status and salaries of chemists improved considerably after several rough years."

The following list is a representative sample of job titles of former graduates with a chemistry major.  Use this as an idea list, and remember that it represents some, but certainly not all, of the careers you might consider.

Students obtaining employment immediately upon graduation are usually those with the best college records and a willingness to relocate to find a job.  Some of these jobs also require education beyond a bachelors' degree.
 
Related Career Titles for Chemistry Majors
 

Agricultural Scientist Cytotechnologist Occupational Safety Specialist System Analyst
Assayer Environmental Health Specialist Perfumer Tissue Technologist
Biochemist Fire Protection Engineer Pharmaceutical Sales Representative Toxicologist
Brewer Lab Assistant Food Scientist Technician Physician Underwater Technician
Cepalometric Analyst Forensic Chemist Planner Vector Control Assistant
Chemical Oceanographer Genetic Counselor Plastics Engineer Veterinarian
Chemistry Technologist High School Teacher Product Tester Wastewater Treatment Chemist
Clarifying Plant Operator Hospital Administrator Quality Assurance Manager Water Purification Chemist
College Professor Hydrologist Risk Manager Yeast Culture Developer
Color Development Chemist Industrial Hygienist Science Lab Technician  
Crime Lab Analyst Molecular Biologist Soil Scientist  

CHEMISTRY WEB SITES

Agricultural Biotech Chemical Job List - Chemical Job Pages

AIRSITE (Atmospheric Chemistry International Research Site - Our goal is to provide a focal point for information on atmospheric chemistry research taking place around the world.

American Association for Clinical Chemistry - AACC (American Association for Clinical Chemistry) is an international scientific/medical society of clinical laboratory professionals, physicians, research scientists and other individuals involved with clinical chemistry and other clinical laboratory science-related disciplines.

American Chemical Society - The American Chemical Society is a self-governed individual membership organization that consists of more than 163,000 members at all degree levels and in all fields of chemistry. The organization provides a broad range of opportunities for peer interaction and career development, regardless of professional or scientific interests.

American Chemical Society Job Bank - Employment Resources for Chemistry Majors

Center for Chemistry Education - Miami University's Center for Chemistry Education (CCE) brings chemistry and the companion sciences to life for teachers and students at all levels.

Chemical Heritage Foundation - The Chemical Heritage Foundation (CHF) seeks to advance the heritage and public understanding of the chemical and molecular sciences by operating a historical research library; discovering and disseminating information about historical resources; encouraging research, scholarship, and popular writing; publishing historical materials; conducting oral histories; creating exhibits; and taking other appropriate steps to make known the achievements of chemical and molecular scientists and engineers and of related sciences, technologies, and industries.

Chemist (Occupational Outlook Handbook) - Chemists and Materials Scientists from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics

ChemPointers - Chemistry Resources from UCLA

Chemical and Engineering News - Online Magazine with job postings

Chemistry & Industry - Online Magazine

Chemistry Internship at Pfizer - Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets leading prescription medicines for humans and animals and many of the world's best-known consumer brands.

Chemical Week - Online Magazine

Chemistry Web Links - The UCLA Chemistry & Biochemistry Department has a tradition of excellence and is ranked among the best in the country, as evidenced by the quality of its programs, the caliber of its faculty, and the excellence of its students. The Department is a leader in cutting-edge research and innovative educational programs.

Experiential Programs in Chemistry - 2005 Directory

JobSpectrum.org - A comprehensive online career and employment site exclusively for the chemical sciences community.

Science Careers - Search hundreds of ads from Science and ScienceCareers. Ads updated daily!

Sciencejobs.com - Sciencejobs.com is a leading web-based career service producted and owned, in partnership, by the publishers of Cell, BioMedNet, and New Scientist.

Science Global Career Network - Founded in 1880 by Thomas Edison, Science is one of the most prestigious and widely cited journals in the world. In 1900, Science became the official journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Today, Science builds on its distinguished past by reaching nearly 148,000 subcribers and over 800,000 readers around the globe every week both in print and online.

The National Academies - In 1863, the United States Congress created the National Academy of Sciences to advise the government in scientific and technical matters.

Chemistry Department at St. Lawrence University