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SOC 19-2031 · O*NET 19-2031.00
This route takes chemists (19-2031.00) as the main identity and explains them alongside materials scientists (19-2032.00); conducting qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories: developing and executing analytical methods, analysing compounds using chromatography and spectroscopy, conducting quality control tests, maintaining instruments and preparing reagents, and compiling data and writing reports and standards and specifications.
Model impact index for three equally weighted representative core tasks; not a measured share of working time or a job-loss probability. floor((25+50+75)/3+0.5)=50; fermatmind-ai-impact-v1; 2026-10-18.
One line: this is a position that turns whether the method was used correctly, whether the data can be reproduced, whether anomalies were retested and escalated, whether the conclusion states its applicable conditions, and whether safety procedures were maintained into reviewable evidence, producing experimental and analytical raw records, method and validation records, instrument use, maintenance and fault records, quality control and deviation handling records, safety assessment and rectification records, technical reports and papers and draft standards and specifications, and reagent and consumable purchasing and inventory records; it is not a product design or process scale-up role, and it does not replace the final determination of method confirmation, result release and incident findings by the authorised quality and safety management departments.
Education, qualifications and authorization must be checked separately: O*NET lists this occupation as Job Zone Four (considerable preparation needed), SVP range 7.0 to below 8.0; BLS shows that most positions require a four-year bachelor's degree and some (such as research positions) require a master's or doctorate. The O*NET certification page for this occupation lists 10 national certifications (Approved Chemist, Chemical Hygiene Officer, Toxicological Chemist, Protective Coatings Specialist, Toxicological Chemistry, Certified Professional Chemist, Qualified Environmental Professional, Clinical Chemistry, Environmental Analytical Technologist and Clinical Chemist), and no registered apprenticeship positions were listed at the time. Industry certification is evidence of ability and an employer preference and does not equal a practice qualification or job authorization. In the United States, entry to this occupation does not require a licence, but enterprises usually require internal safety and quality training and work under job authorization; in Chinese mainland, positions involving hazardous chemicals, testing qualification accreditation and laboratory safety have separate work safety and qualification management rules, and this page does not extend the requirements of one jurisdiction to another. Education and training, industry certification, statutory and work qualifications, and job hiring and authorization are four different things.
Career direction comparison
The table below compares positions and occupations adjacent to this occupation (this route takes chemists 19-2031.00 as the main identity and explains materials scientists 19-2032.00 alongside): materials scientists, chemical engineers, materials engineers, industrial engineers, biochemists and biophysicists, and natural sciences managers. The four columns answer the same kind of question: what the direction does, where the key difference from this occupation lies, and what kind of person is better suited to choosing it.
| Career direction | Core work and output | Key differences | Best-fit choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Materials scientists | Researching the structure and chemical properties of materials and developing or strengthening materials, with outputs centring on material data and new materials or new processes. | Materials scientists focus more on the material structure-property-processing relationship, with common specialities being ceramics, metals, polymers and semiconductors; the main identity of this page, chemists, focuses more on the composition, properties and reactions of substances and on analytical testing methods. |
AI impact on this career
The public materials support the tasks, software keywords, AI exposure method and employment projection; spectrum assistance, compiling, drafting and retrieval are suggested editorial trials, and no measured reliability or time saving for this occupation was obtained this round. The BLS Table 1.2 U.S. SOC19-2031 chemist projection for 2025—2035 is 84,900 → 90,300 people, growth of 6.4%, and 5,900 openings per year on average; the OOH chemist sub-item rounds to 6% (faster than average). The official net increase of 5.5 thousand is rounded independently and differs from the 5.4 thousand difference between the two rounded endpoints, and is not recalculated to override it. Openings include growth and replacement demand such as transfers and exits from the labour force, and are not the stock of active vacancies, an AI attribution or year-by-year actuals. AI Impact Score 50% is an editorial estimate. Model impact index for three equally weighted representative core tasks; not a measured share of working time or a job-loss probability. floor((25+50+75)/3+0.5)=50; fermatmind-ai-impact-v1; 2026-10-18.The three tasks, ratings and sources are listed in the FermatMind method source record on this page.
FermatMind AI Impact Score estimation method v1
FermatMind / 费马测试 · 2026-10-18
Chinese mainland salary reference
Occupation comparison: U.S. O*NET-SOC 19-2031.00 (Chemists, SOC 19-2031); this evidence route has not established a corresponding Chinese mainland occupational sub-category, and the related duties may be distributed across several series such as chemical research and analytical assay and R&D and quality control, and must be classified by the position's actual duties and qualifications and institutional authorization; the page language does not constitute occupational equivalence or a wage mapping.
Article 2 of China's Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Testing Institutions applies to activities that issue reports with probative effect to society; Articles 8 and 12 cover the competence and technical scope of authorised signatories, and Article 13 requires original records and reports to be kept for at least 6 years. CMA or special qualifications are checked against the institution, project and legal source and are not an individual licence for every chemist or a uniform threshold for all externally issued data. Chinese safety education, hazardous chemicals and special operation and equipment qualifications are checked against the actual unit and category.
Insufficient evidence: no Chinese mainland national occupational monthly wage distribution corresponding precisely to chemists was obtained; this page publishes no substitute values and does not derive them from quotes for adjacent positions.
U.S. salary reference
The May 2025 chemist OEWS median is 91,240 USD/year and 43.87 USD/hour; percentiles are positions in the wage statistics, not starting pay or take-home income. The BLS Table 1.2 U.S. SOC19-2031 chemist projection for 2025—2035 is 84,900 → 90,300 people, growth of 6.4%, and 5,900 openings per year on average; the OOH chemist sub-item rounds to 6% (faster than average). The official net increase of 5.5 thousand is rounded independently and differs from the 5.4 thousand difference between the two rounded endpoints, and is not recalculated to override it. Openings include growth and replacement demand such as transfers and exits from the labour force, and are not the stock of active vacancies, an AI attribution or year-by-year actuals. The five percentiles and five industry wages on this page use chemists 19-2031 and are not combined statistics; the materials scientist median of 117,790 and the combined 95,060 serve only as side-by-side background on the same page.
| Wage statistical position | Annual wage reference | Conversion boundary | How to understand this position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 58,460 USD/year (10th percentile) | Annual wage statistics, not individual monthly income |
Career fit guide
Editorial fit self-check: willing to run long-term experiments to method, record faithfully, and keep evidence and report promptly when anomalies occur; IRC is an orientation of occupational activities, not a group personality distribution or an individual hiring judgment. The preference clues for the main chemist framing on this page do not represent all materials scientists.
You may be better suited to： People who are willing to repeat analyses to method over the long term, can stay focused during fine operations and continuous protection, and are willing to record the conditions and observations of every step faithfully.
These situations need careful thought： People who are unwilling to record step by step to the method, tend to skip steps in repetitive analysis, or tend to modify the data rather than re-check the process when results do not match expectations.
Do an entry exercise： Use the fictional materials in the In the field, qualifications and career development section of this page to complete one closed loop from method confirmation to records and reporting, then judge whether you are willing to repeat it.
Work pressure, risks and career boundaries
Direct answer: the pressure that must be judged in advance in this occupation comes from three places — erroneous conclusions caused by an inapplicable method or insufficient validation, the traceability risk caused by distorted raw data and records, and the safety and health exposure of laboratory chemical and instrument work. The O*NET work context shows 69% consider precision or accuracy extremely important, 80% wear common protective or safety equipment every day, 30% are exposed to contaminants every day, 22% consider the consequences of error extremely serious and 37% very serious, 23% have very high responsibility for the health and safety of others and 46% high responsibility.
O*NET is a U.S. task and context questionnaire; China's inspection and testing supervision measures are checked for Articles 2, 8, 12 and 13 on activities, signing and records, and the Work Safety Law is checked for Articles 27, 28, 30, 33, 55 and 57—59 on unit and work conditions; the U.S. OSHA1910.1450 is checked for the laboratory definition and planned training. The control measures are editorial checks and cannot serve as uniform work authorization.
Typical scenario：Copying a literature or supplier method without validation, or continuing to apply the original acceptance criteria after the sample type changes.
Entering the field, qualifications and career development
The typical U.S. BLS entry is a bachelor's degree in chemistry or a related major; some research positions require a master's or doctorate plus experience. The O*NET JobZone4/SVP7 to <8 is a preparation grouping, not a uniform length of study. The suggested editorial approach is to check chemistry, experimental, data and safety ability through coursework, projects and internships; Chinese actual recruitment, work qualifications and institutional requirements are checked separately.
Career prospects and related occupation transitions
The BLS Table 1.2 U.S. SOC19-2031 chemist projection for 2025—2035 is 84,900 → 90,300 people, growth of 6.4%, and 5,900 openings per year on average; the OOH chemist sub-item rounds to 6% (faster than average). The official net increase of 5.5 thousand is rounded independently and differs from the 5.4 thousand difference between the two rounded endpoints, and is not recalculated to override it. Openings include growth and replacement demand such as transfers and exits from the labour force, and are not the stock of active vacancies, an AI attribution or year-by-year actuals. No precise Chinese occupational employment or wage distribution was obtained this round; the industry wage background is listed separately and does not fill in an occupational projection. The merged route retains the chemist framing; materials scientists 19-2032 are separately 8.6 → 9.3 thousand, 8.3% and 600 openings per year, and the combined 19-2030 is 6.6% with 6500 openings per year (2025—2035). Sub-items and the combination cannot be exchanged, and neither provides an AI attribution.
Daily tasks are mainly laboratory analysis and methods and data: developing and improving products or analytical methods, analysing compounds using chromatography and spectroscopy or spectrophotometry techniques, changing the composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy or catalysts, conducting quality control tests, maintaining instruments and troubleshooting, preparing test solutions and reagents, and compiling and analysing test information and writing reports or standards and specifications. The O*NET work context shows 95% work indoors in a controlled environment every day, 92% use email every day and 69% consider precision or accuracy extremely important.
First the framing of this page: this route takes chemists as the main identity and explains that BLS often places chemists and materials scientists side by side on the same occupation page; materials scientists focus more on the structure-property-processing relationship of materials, with common specialities being ceramics, metals, polymers and semiconductors. Chemical engineers are responsible for the design and scale-up of processes and plants; materials engineers are responsible for material performance and selection and failure schemes; industrial engineers focus on processes, efficiency and scheduling. This occupation develops and executes analytical methods in the laboratory, produces credible data and interprets results, and does not carry responsibility for plant design and scale-up or material selection conclusions.
Choose a real task from this page for a small practice project or a conversation with someone in the field. Use the planning guides to set a date, an output and feedback questions before deciding whether to continue.
Conditions for pausing high investment first: you have not yet completed, under supervision, a full closed-loop exercise running from reading and understanding the analytical method and acceptance criteria to confirming the state of samples, reagents and instruments to executing the experiment and analysis to method to recording raw data to checking anomalies and retesting or escalating to issuing a record or report; or you are unwilling to record step by step to the method, unwilling to keep raw data when results do not match expectations, or tend to produce results first and fill in records afterwards when the applicable conditions of a method are unclear. And do not skip method and safety judgments just because you like chemistry: one of the important tasks of this occupation is evaluating laboratory safety procedures and ensuring compliance with standards. If you would rather design products and processes and do engineering scale-up, chemical engineers and materials engineers are adjacent positions with different requirements.
One-line judgment: this page takes chemists (O*NET-SOC 19-2031.00) as the main occupational identity and explains that BLS often places chemists and materials scientists (19-2032.00) side by side on the same occupation page; the two have in common that their core output is experimental and analytical data, and differ in that chemists focus more on the composition, properties and reactions of substances while materials scientists focus more on the structure-property-processing relationships of materials. Chemists do not run experiments from a list; they conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories in the service of quality control, process control and new products or knowledge — the official duties are to 'Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge'. In daily work they develop, improve or customise products, equipment, formulas, processes or analytical methods (importance 80); analyse organic or inorganic compounds using chromatography and spectroscopy or spectrophotometry techniques to determine their chemical or physical properties, composition, structure, relationships or reactions (77); change the composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy or chemical catalysts for quantitative or qualitative analysis (74); conduct quality control tests (73); write technical papers or reports or prepare standards and specifications for processes, facilities, products or tests (73); maintain laboratory instruments to ensure proper working order and troubleshoot when needed (73); prepare test solutions, compounds or reagents for laboratory personnel (73); compile and analyse test information to determine process or equipment operating efficiency or to diagnose malfunctions (71); confer with scientists or engineers to analyse research projects and interpret test results or develop nonstandard tests (70); evaluate laboratory safety procedures to ensure compliance with standards or to make improvements when needed (67); direct, coordinate or advise personnel in test procedures for analysing the composition or physical properties of materials (65); and purchase laboratory supplies such as chemicals when inventory is low or nearing expiration (61). O*NET lists this occupation as Job Zone Four (considerable preparation needed), SVP range 7.0 to below 8.0, with an interest code of IRC (Investigative, Realistic, Conventional); BLS shows that most positions require a four-year bachelor's degree, with some requiring a master's or doctorate. The core boundary is that this is a technical position whose core output is experimental and analytical data and which is responsible for methods and data, not an engineering position centred on product design and process scale-up; this page does not present Chinese mainland occupational qualifications and position arrangements as a uniform threshold, nor does it present the U.S. bachelor's degree threshold as a general requirement in other jurisdictions.
Signals to keep exploring: you are willing to spend long periods in a laboratory handling samples and data, and willing to take responsibility for the applicability of methods and the reproducibility of results; the O*NET work context shows that for this occupation 95% of respondents work indoors in a controlled environment every day, 92% use email every day, 80% wear common protective or safety equipment every day, 74% have face-to-face discussions every day, 69% consider precision or accuracy extremely important, 44% have a lot of freedom in how they make decisions, 42% are in contact with others most of the time, 31% have a typical work week of more than 40 hours (59% work 40 hours), 30% are exposed to contaminants every day, 25% face time pressure every day, 33% consider repeating the same task extremely important, 22% consider the consequences of error extremely serious and 37% very serious, 40% consider competition highly competitive; the work of 39% is not automated at all, 32% is slightly automated and 21% is moderately automated; 93% have a regular schedule. These figures show that most of the time is spent on experiments, data processing and records, that responsibility for data accuracy and safety is real, and that it is managed through methods, review and records.
This route takes chemists (O*NET-SOC 19-2031.00) as the main occupational identity and explains that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics often places chemists and materials scientists (19-2032.00) side by side on the same occupation page: chemists study the composition, properties and reactions of substances; materials scientists study the structure and chemical properties of natural, synthetic and composite materials (including metals and alloys, rubber, ceramics, semiconductors, polymers and glass) and identify ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials with specific properties, with common specialities including glass and ceramics, metallurgy and polymer scientists. The figures and task statements on this page follow the chemist framing, with the materials scientist comparison figures listed separately in the corresponding places. Chemists conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge (O*NET-SOC 19-2031.00 official duties). In daily work they develop, improve or customise products, equipment, formulas, processes or analytical methods; analyse organic or inorganic compounds using chromatography, spectroscopy or spectrophotometry techniques to determine their chemical or physical properties, composition, structure, relationships or reactions; change the composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy or chemical catalysts for quantitative or qualitative analysis; conduct quality control tests; write technical papers or reports or prepare standards and specifications for processes, facilities, products or tests; maintain laboratory instruments to ensure proper working order and troubleshoot when needed; prepare test solutions, compounds or reagents for laboratory personnel; compile and analyse test information to determine process or equipment operating efficiency or to diagnose malfunctions; confer with scientists or engineers to analyse research projects, interpret test results or develop nonstandard tests; evaluate laboratory safety procedures to ensure compliance with standards or to make improvements when needed; direct, coordinate or advise personnel in test procedures for analysing the composition or physical properties of materials; and purchase laboratory supplies such as chemicals when inventory is low or nearing expiration. Boundary of responsibility: the specific data, method, report and safety responsibilities are checked against the position and the applicable system; chemists may also hold method confirmation or signing authority. Chinese probative inspection and testing reports are additionally checked against the institution's scope of application and the authorised signatory, and authority is neither granted nor excluded by occupational title.
Editorially organised from the O*NET tasks into three interconnected work fronts. The first is laboratory analysis and testing: processing samples to method and analysing organic or inorganic compounds using chromatography and spectroscopy or spectrophotometry techniques to determine their properties, composition, structure or reactions, and conducting quality control tests. The second is method, product and process development: developing, improving or customising products, equipment, formulas, processes or analytical methods, changing the composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy or catalysts, and developing nonstandard tests. The third is records, reporting, collaboration and compliance: recording and compiling analytical test information, writing technical papers and reports or preparing standards and specifications, maintaining instruments and troubleshooting when needed, and evaluating laboratory safety procedures and conferring with scientists and engineers. What the three have in common is that they speak through methods, raw data and traceable records; the specific method confirmation, result release and change authority is checked against the position, jurisdiction and institutional rules and is not determined by the three names.
Completing analytical testing to validated methods and judging whether results are in control
This merged route also covers materials scientists: researching the structure and chemical properties of natural, synthetic and composite materials, strengthening and developing new materials; chemists also research and develop. The two are not a clean divide between pure analysis and pure research. Responsibility for engineering design, processing, teams and budgets is checked against the specific position and is not automatically granted by an adjacent name.
| Dimension | Primary track | Comparison track |
|---|---|---|
| Core purpose | The central output is credible analytical data and reviewable method and report records | Completing qualitative and quantitative analysis to method and ensuring data are reproducible and traceable |
| Main objects and basis | Chemical engineers focus on chemical processes, plants and production engineering design; chemists also develop products, formulations and processes and interpret analytical and research results. The tasks can overlap, and scale-up and design responsibility is checked against the actual position. | Based on analytical methods and acceptance criteria, quality control data, instrument status and safety specifications |
| Core process | Materials engineers focus on the engineering application of materials and processing; chemists can carry out substance research, material analysis and product development. This occupation cannot be restricted entirely to obtaining data or excluded from engineering collaboration. |
analysing organic or inorganic compounds using chromatography and spectroscopy or spectrophotometry techniques to determine their chemical or physical properties, composition, structure or reactions, and conducting quality control tests (corresponding to O*NET task importance 77 and 73).
developing, improving or customising products, equipment, formulas, processes or analytical methods and changing the composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy or chemical catalysts for quantitative or qualitative analysis (corresponding to task importance 80 and 74).
writing technical papers or reports or preparing standards and specifications for processes, facilities, products or tests, and compiling and analysing test information to determine process or equipment operating efficiency or to diagnose malfunctions (corresponding to task importance 73 and 71).
maintaining laboratory instruments to ensure proper working order and troubleshooting when needed, and preparing test solutions, compounds or reagents for laboratory personnel (corresponding to task importance 73 and 73).
conferring with scientists or engineers to analyse research projects and interpret test results or develop nonstandard tests, and directing, coordinating or advising personnel in test procedures for analysing the composition or physical properties of materials (corresponding to task importance 70 and 65).
evaluating laboratory safety procedures to ensure compliance with standards or to make improvements when needed, and purchasing laboratory supplies such as chemicals when inventory is low or nearing expiration (corresponding to task importance 67 and 61).
Six editorial checkpoints: method applicability, the state of samples, reagents and instruments, whether an anomaly requires immediate reporting or emergency handling, the completeness of raw records, the basis for quality control, and the execution of safety procedures. Retesting and escalation are not given a uniform order on this page.
Judgment one: is the method applicable to the current sample
Judgment two: is the state of samples, reagents and instruments trustworthy
Judgment three: the boundary of anomaly reporting, investigation and retesting
| People who want to go deep into the relationship between material structure and properties are suited to materials scientists; people who want to focus on substance composition and reactions and analytical testing are suited to the main direction of this page. |
| Chemical engineers | Designing processes and plants and doing scale-up and process documentation, with outputs centring on calculations and process design documents. | Chemical engineers decide process conditions and the technical route and are responsible for the design basis; this occupation develops and executes analytical methods and interprets data and does not carry plant design and scale-up responsibility. | People willing to go deep into calculations and scale-up judgments are suited to chemical engineers; people willing to do methods and data in a laboratory are suited to this occupation. |
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| Materials engineers | Researching material performance, selection and failure and giving material schemes, with outputs centring on material data and schemes. | Materials engineers are responsible for material performance judgments and material selection conclusions; this occupation provides material-related chemical and physical analytical data and supports those judgments without carrying responsibility for material selection and failure conclusions. | People willing to study material performance and failure mechanisms are suited to materials engineers; people willing to do material and chemical analysis and ensure data quality are suited to this occupation. |
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| Industrial engineers | Optimising processes, people and machines, scheduling and cost, with outputs centring on process schemes and efficiency indicators. | The object of industrial engineers is system processes and efficiency and resource allocation; the object of this occupation is chemical methods and experimental data, and the evaluation standard is data credibility and standards compliance. | People who like processes and efficiency and coordination are suited to industrial engineers; people who like methods and experimental detail are suited to this occupation. |
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| Biochemists and biophysicists | Researching the chemical and physical mechanisms of biomolecules and life processes, with outputs centring on research results and methods. | Biochemists and biophysicists focus on the molecular mechanisms of living systems; the analytical objects of this occupation are broader, covering non-living systems such as chemicals, materials and environmental samples. | People who want to go deep into the molecular mechanisms of life sciences are suited to the biochemistry and biophysics direction; people willing to analyse broader systems are suited to this occupation. |
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| Natural sciences managers | Managing research or production teams, budgets and projects, with outputs centring on team results and business indicators. | The role of natural sciences managers is organization, resource allocation and performance management, and they usually no longer do experiments themselves; the front-line duties of this occupation are experiments and data analysis, and management duties are usually temporary or concurrent. | People who want to move towards team and resource management are suited to the natural sciences manager direction; people willing to spend the long term in a laboratory doing methods and data are suited to this occupation. |
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The six directions share part of the skill set with this occupation: chemistry and analytical chemistry fundamentals, experimental design, data processing and report writing, and safety and standards awareness. The real difference lies in the object (analytical methods and data, processes and plants, material structure and properties, processes and efficiency, molecular mechanisms of living systems, teams and resource management), the assessment (whether the data are credible and the standards met, or design conclusions and resource and business indicators) and the responsibility (methods and data, or design conclusions and product validation). When choosing, it is better to verify first with a deliverable analysis or method record rather than comparing titles.
If you would rather design processes and plants and do scale-up, you can compare further with chemical engineers and materials engineers; if you would rather optimise processes and efficiency, compare industrial engineers; if you want to move into molecular mechanism research on living systems, compare biochemists and biophysicists; if you would rather do team and resource management, compare natural sciences managers; if you want to focus on the structure, properties and processing relationships of materials, compare materials scientists. The entry and responsibility structures of these positions differ from this occupation, and the method and data judgments on this page should not be confused with design or release authority.
Editorial ratings use the existing occupational responsibilities and AI task analysis on this page. They are not adoption rates, measured effects, job-disappearance or personal-unemployment probabilities, or official scores from Stanford or another external institution. No measured time weights or future robot deployment are assumed.
Data organization, spectrum assistance, drafting and retrieval are suggested editorial trial uses; no measured accuracy, reliability or time saving for this occupation was obtained this round. Methods, data, citations, results and safety prompts must all be validated for the purpose, and it is not first assumed which of them are already reliable.
O*NET provides 2025 U.S. recruitment software keywords and occupational software descriptions; it does not prove generative AI adoption at a specific enterprise or LIMS penetration. Actual use, permissions and effects require institutional evidence.
The BLS Table 1.2 U.S. SOC19-2031 chemist projection for 2025—2035 is 84,900 → 90,300 people, growth of 6.4%, and 5,900 openings per year on average; the OOH chemist sub-item rounds to 6% (faster than average). The official net increase of 5.5 thousand is rounded independently and differs from the 5.4 thousand difference between the two rounded endpoints, and is not recalculated to override it. Openings include growth and replacement demand such as transfers and exits from the labour force, and are not the stock of active vacancies, an AI attribution or year-by-year actuals.
| Work area | Task | Current change | Human control point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laboratory analysis and testing | Analysing compounds using chromatography and spectroscopy or spectrophotometry techniques and conducting quality control tests | Suggested editorial use: spectrum and summarising assistance can be trialled; check the method, output and anomaly conditions, and no measured efficiency gain was obtained. | Confirm whether a deviation is a genuine result or a problem with the sample, instrument or method; where safety or batch release is affected, keep the raw records and escalate immediately. |
| Method, product and process development | Developing or improving analytical methods and product formulations and validating their applicability | Suggested editorial use: scheme and condition drafts can be trialled; validation design and feasibility are checked through the procedure. | Check the condition and expiry of samples, reagents and reference materials and confirm that the experimental conditions and safety protection meet the method and procedure requirements. |
| Records, reporting, collaboration and compliance | Compiling and analysing test information and writing reports and standards and specifications | Suggested editorial use: summarising, charts and drafts can be trialled; conclusions, technical significance and report responsibility follow the actual system. | Suggested editorial checking: keep raw records promptly for anomalies and report through the actual procedure; for investigation check the method, sample, instrument and quality control. Retesting or resampling is carried out only where the procedure allows and safety conditions and authorization are in place, and repeated testing must not be used to pick a passing value or to delay safety handling. |
| Instruments and safety | Maintaining and calibrating instruments and evaluating laboratory safety procedures | Suggested editorial use: maintenance reminders can be trialled; fault diagnosis, repair and emergency handling follow the actual responsibilities, and external professional services cannot be prohibited across the board. | Confirm whether the safety facilities, personal protection and waste disposal meet the requirements, and handle spills or anomalies and report through the procedure. |
| Records and handover | Recording experimental data and completing project and shift handover | Suggested editorial use: summaries and reports can be trialled; verify the authenticity and completeness of the records and the handover conditions. | Check the raw records, quality control data and unfinished items and confirm that the handover content lets the person taking over reproduce the state at the time. |
| Materials and inventory management | Troubleshooting instruments and purchasing and maintaining reagents, consumables and inventory | Suggested editorial use: inventory expiry reminders can be trialled; purchasing, storage and disposal follow the actual hazardous chemicals system. | Judge whether an anomaly affects the validity of the data and product quality, and notify instrument maintenance or the quality and safety positions through the procedure. |
| Collaboration and guidance | Collaborating with scientists and engineers and directing personnel in test procedures | Suggested editorial use: assistance with communication and training records can be trialled; check the technical content and the applicable duties. | Confirm that the guidance and collaboration content matches the methods and specifications and keep the communication and training records. |
The five evidence cards explain the source, the subject of study, the conclusion and the usage limits. They answer what evidence exists, not whether this occupation will be replaced.
Editorial comparison of potential tool uses and the validation and responsibility conditions across the three task fronts of analytical testing, method and product development, and records and collaboration; it is not an adoption time series, a measured effect or a permanent division of labour.
AI primarily changesSuggested editorial use, subject to checking authorization, input and actual output: automatically parsing spectra and instrument readings and generating a result table, automatically carrying method parameters and sample information into a record template, and running consistency comparisons and trend prompts on historical quality control data.
Human responsibility remainsMethod, matrix, scope and quality control must be checked; anomalies are recorded and reported, and investigation and retesting follow the conditions, procedure and permissions and are not automatically authorized by a tool.
AI primarily changesSuggested editorial use, subject to checking authorization, input and actual output: generating candidate method conditions and experimental design suggestions for the target performance, organizing formulations and process conditions and regulatory limits into a checkable list, and giving reminders about reagent and reference material expiry and inventory.
Human responsibility remainsJudging the feasibility of the candidate scheme under production and safety conditions, confirming whether the experimental design and statistical method are appropriate, and deciding whether to proceed to scale-up or customer validation.
AI primarily changesSuggested editorial use, subject to checking authorization, input and actual output: organizing raw data and statistical results into charts and report drafts, organizing deviations and rectification into records, and checking whether citations and data are traceable.
Human responsibility remainsJudging the technical significance and reproducibility of the results, confirming that the records match the raw data, and bearing responsibility for the corresponding report and standards and safety assessment content.
The following five steps are the editorial process given on this page to explain who is responsible at which step; they are not a mandatory process prescribed by the source and do not replace the enterprise's own analytical methods and quality and safety systems.
Make clear the object of the task (which sample, which method, which project), the source and timing of the input data, and the quality, R&D or compliance decision this judgment is to support.
Data acquisition and parsing assistance, statistics and chart generation, or retrieval and prompts are done by the instrument system or tool, with the tool and version and the data range recorded.
Review by the operator and an authorized position: whether the method and acceptance criteria apply, whether quality control and duplicate samples are in control, and whether the conclusion goes beyond the specification limits and the authorized scope.
Record the inputs, the tool and version, the review comments, the retesting and handling and the approval; for results that affect release, additionally keep the raw records and the audit trail.
Method confirmation, result release and change are confirmed by an authorized position under the enterprise and jurisdictional requirements; systems and tools do not bear that responsibility, nor do they exempt the operator from working to the method and recording faithfully.
A system may give a parsing or conclusion that looks reasonable but does not match the actual spectrum or sample; adopting it directly when the method applicability or sample condition is unclear causes erroneous reports and quality risk.
Control: Suggested editorial checking: keep raw records promptly for anomalies and report through the actual procedure; for investigation check the method, sample, instrument and quality control. Retesting or resampling is carried out only where the procedure allows and safety conditions and authorization are in place, and repeated testing must not be used to pick a passing value or to delay safety handling.
Some formulations, parameters, customer and testing information may be protected by law, contract or unit rules; not all experimental data or published patents are trade secrets. Check the category, actual authorization and terms of service before uploading.
Control: Suggested editorial approach: check the data permissions and tool terms first; de-identification does not automatically equal anonymisation or a permit for external transmission, internal systems must also restrict access by duty, and export records are kept under the applicable system.
Changes in tools, model versions and aggregation rules may produce differences; keep the input, output, time and change records sufficient for review, and do not assert that traceability is necessarily entirely impossible because one field is missing.
Control: Record the system name and version, the data source and time range, and the human review and modifications, and bring them into the original record management.
Errors in units, concentration, dilution, significant figures and detection limit may change the conclusion; tool prompts cannot guarantee identifying every error, and key values must be checked proactively.
Control: Carry out unit, dilution factor and significant figure checks on key values, and flag values below the detection limit or outside the range separately and handle them to procedure.
When the process is split into the system producing results and a person signing off, a gap easily appears in which no one is responsible for data quality and the conclusion.
Control: Make the operator, reviewer and approver for each step explicit in the process, and let the records be able to answer who made this judgment and on what basis.
First build solid fundamentals in reading methods, units and dimensions, sample handling and raw records, then learn to organize results with data analysis and cheminformatics tools; do not skip method training and safety standards to chase tool trends.
Suggested editorial trial: within authorized data and validated conditions, try data organization, trends and report drafts; check method applicability and output, report anomalies promptly, and retest only under the procedure, conditions and authorization.
Suggested editorial trial: check whether the dashboard helps present anomalies and quality control deviations; no measured efficiency gain was obtained this round. Method confirmation, non-conformities and release follow the actual system, and system prompts do not replace raw records.
Treat the prompts given by the model as leads, and check each one back against the raw records, quality control samples and instrument calibration and safety assessment records, keeping documentation of the review and rectification.
Task descriptions, software keywords, the ILO exposure study and the BLS projection are not sufficient to determine that the occupation will be replaced or will never be replaced; tool uses can be trialled task by task, and review and safety responsibilities are checked against the specific system and jurisdiction.
Source: O*NET19-2031 tasks; BLS Table 1.2 projection; ILO exposure method (does not provide a replacement year for this occupation)Original source ↗
Programming is not a uniform threshold for the whole occupation, nor can it be used to exclude specific position requirements. The O*NET transferable skill Programming28, and the full software description includes analysis, database and development tools; Hot recruitment words cannot prove that every tool is a hard requirement. The suggested editorial order is to fill in chemistry, experiments, safety and records first, then add programming according to the target research and data position.
Source: O*NET detail Software/Transferable Skills; BLS OOH education and Table 1.2 typical entryOriginal source ↗
Editorial comparison: structured data, spectrum assistance, chart drafts and retrieval can serve as trial objects; on-site work, method validation, root cause of anomalies and safety have separate conditions. There is no occupational-level adoption time series, so it is not asserted which will necessarily be affected earlier or later.
Source: O*NET 19-2031.00 task importance ranking; ILO exposure index method noteOriginal source ↗
The BLS Table 1.2 U.S. SOC19-2031 chemist projection for 2025—2035 is 84,900 → 90,300 people, growth of 6.4%, and 5,900 openings per year on average; the OOH chemist sub-item rounds to 6% (faster than average). The official net increase of 5.5 thousand is rounded independently and differs from the 5.4 thousand difference between the two rounded endpoints, and is not recalculated to override it. Openings include growth and replacement demand such as transfers and exits from the labour force, and are not the stock of active vacancies, an AI attribution or year-by-year actuals.
Source: BLS Table 1.2 occupational-level projection for 19-2031 over 2025—2035; OOH chemist sub-itemOriginal source ↗
AI text does not replace responsibilities that should be borne by people or institutions in accordance with the law. Article 2 of China's Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Testing Institutions applies to activities that issue reports with probative effect to society; Articles 8 and 12 cover the competence and technical scope of authorised signatories, and Article 13 requires original records and reports to be kept for at least 6 years. CMA or special qualifications are checked against the institution, project and legal source and are not an individual licence for every chemist or a uniform threshold for all externally issued data. Other R&D reports, method confirmation and product release are checked against the applicable quality system and permissions, and NIST is not used to prove statutory signing authority.
Source: Articles 2, 8, 12 and 13 of China's inspection and testing supervision measures; NIST is only a voluntary governance referenceOriginal source ↗
This page makes no such prediction and cites no source that fixes a year. What can be checked is only the projection period and projected values under the statistical framing; extrapolating beyond the projection period into a disappearance year is an inference unsupported by evidence.
Source: BLS Table 1.2 2025—2035 projection (does not provide a disappearance year)Original source ↗
Suggested priority order: first build solid analytical chemistry methods, experiments and raw records, then learn to organize and analyse data with instrument data systems and spreadsheets or statistical software and become familiar with cheminformatics and literature retrieval tools; at the same time make checking and documenting generative tools a habit, and insist on human judgment with the basis retained when method confirmation and result release are involved.
Source: O*NET Hot Technologies 19-2031.00 (technology keywords); NIST AI RMF 1.0Original source ↗
AI and digitalisation can be trialled under specific methods, data and permission conditions; no occupational-level magnitude of change or adoption time series was measured this round. Check the scientific basis, raw data, validation, quality control and safety systems, and do not write suggested uses as a guaranteed efficiency gain or a permanent responsibility structure.
Insufficient evidence: no verifiable region-level occupational monthly wage data was obtained, so this page does not present a regional ranking.
Insufficient evidence: no official or verifiable source supports a monthly wage range for this position in other regions.
No Chinese national occupational wage distribution for chemists was obtained this round, which does not mean the official data were never published. NBS2025 gives Chinese urban non-private and private annual average wages of 113,594/76,055 CNY for manufacturing and 182,064/83,560 CNY for scientific research and technical services. The four values are broad industry background, not wages specific to chemists or to chemical manufacturing or testing sub-sectors, and not a median, starting pay, take-home income or regional monthly wage.
| Educational background | Job direction | Notes and suggested checks |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree (chemistry, chemical engineering, materials and related majors) | Analytical testing and quality control position direction | Editorial note, not wage statistics: education is one of the recruitment conditions, and the position direction is determined by the enterprise, industry and qualifications, so income cannot be inferred from it. |
| Master's degree (chemistry, medicinal chemistry, materials chemistry and related majors) | R&D and product development direction; method development and validation direction | Editorial note: education and research direction affect whether you can enter the R&D series, and this page does not map education directly onto income bands. |
| Doctoral research background (target position conditions are checked separately) | Basic research and R&D direction (does not automatically grant team leader authority) | Editorial direction note: research output can demonstrate professional experience; whether you enter an R&D, technical or team leader position is checked against the actual appointment and duties, and authority or income is not inferred automatically from education. |
| Vocational training and qualification paths | Unit safety and method training; specific statutory work qualifications are checked by category | Safety training, personal work qualification, institutional qualification and authorised signing are different conditions and are checked against the specific unit, activity and legal source; contact with hazardous chemicals does not automatically require the same certificate. |
When comparing opportunities, check the employment, the testing and R&D scope, hazardous chemicals and the specific work and equipment category, the report purpose and the pay structure; industry background cannot predict individual wages.
Editorially check whether the target position is responsible for raw material, intermediate or product analysis and quality control; hazardous chemical risk, training, protection and qualifications are checked against the substance and work category, and the strength of the requirement is not judged from the industry name.
Editorially check the product, batch size, method, quality system and deviation procedure; it is not assumed that all pharmaceutical fine chemicals are small batch or have stricter specification requirements.
Editorially check third-party and in-house laboratory tasks; for activities that issue reports with probative effect to society, check the institutional qualification and the signatory's technical scope, and not all externally issued data is uniformly CMA.
Tools may change data and processes, and this round contains no evidence of Chinese occupational wage effects or statistical classification changes; it cannot be guaranteed that the official classification will never change, and income is not inferred from software keywords.
| This percentile is used to understand the lower end of the distribution and is not used to judge entry-level pay. |
| 50th percentile | 91,240 USD/year (median) | Not individual monthly income | The median is the midpoint of the distribution and is not the same as the average level, nor does it represent what most people actually earn. |
|---|
| 90th percentile | 160,830 USD/year (90th percentile) | Annual wage statistics, not individual take-home income | This percentile describes the upper end of the distribution and cannot be used to infer management or senior research position income. |
|---|
Salary · 10th percentile：58,460 USD/year；The 10th percentile. This percentile means that 10% of those employed earn no more than this value； it is not entry-level starting pay.；BLS national wage percentiles (19-2031.00, May 2025)
Salary · 25th percentile：69,460 USD/year；The 25th percentile. A percentile describes a position in the distribution, not a seniority grade.；BLS national wage percentiles (19-2031.00, May 2025)
Salary · median：91,240 USD/year；The median. Half of those employed earn above and half below this value, which is not the same concept as entry-level pay.；BLS national wage percentiles (19-2031.00, May 2025)
Salary · 75th percentile：125,550 USD/year；The 75th percentile. Higher income does not automatically correspond to a management position.；BLS national wage percentiles (19-2031.00, May 2025)
Salary · 90th percentile：160,830 USD/year；The 90th percentile of 160,830 USD/year is the upper end of employed wages, not a senior or management wage. OEWS excludes self-employment income, overtime and shift differentials and so on；check the method for inclusions and exclusions, and it is not an individual's total income.； https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_tec.htm
No. The median describes the middle position of all those employed in the statistical period, and the 10th percentile of 58,460 USD cannot be taken as entry-level starting pay either; entry pay also depends on industry, region, shift pattern and qualifications.
No. The OEWS annual wage is converted according to the statistical method and is not each person's actual paid hours; without individual hours and shift and allowance conditions, annual pay, monthly income or after-tax income cannot be derived.
The percentiles and median come from the BLS OEWS May 2025 national statistics, shown via the O*NET National Wages page; a percentile is a statistical position, not seniority or grade.
When comparing an individual offer, check the industry, region, actual duties, qualifications, working hours and the inclusions and exclusions of pay; no independent effects of these factors were quantified this round, and individual returns are not predicted.
| Industry | Industry median wages for the chemist sub-item | How to explain this value |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical manufacturing (May 2025 industry median 88,890 USD/year) | The industry median wage given by the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook (chemist sub-item, May 2025); an industry median describes the middle position of those employed in that industry and is not entry-level starting pay. | The O*NET manufacturing sector is 41%; the chemical manufacturing sub-sector listed in BLS OOH accounts for 33% of U.S. chemist employment (2025). The levels differ and are not interchangeable, nor is individual pay inferred from the share. |
| Testing laboratories and services (May 2025 industry median 66,140 USD/year) | The median of 66,140 USD/year in testing laboratories and services is below the national 91,240 (May 2025); this is a descriptive difference and cannot on its own be used to infer an industry causal effect or individual pay. | Industry medians cannot be converted directly into individual pay and do not represent seniority differences. |
| Scientific research and development services (May 2025 industry median 105,930 USD/year) | The median wage for this occupation in R&D services is 105,930 USD/year (May 2025); higher pay is not used to infer that specification requirements are stricter than in other industries. | This value is an industry framing and not the national median for this occupation. |
| Federal and state and local government (May 2025 industry medians 137,720 / 81,830 USD/year) | The median wages for this occupation given by the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook (chemist sub-item, May 2025) for federal government (excluding postal) and state and local government (excluding education and hospitals); federal government is the highest value among the industries listed. | The federal 137,720 and state and local 81,830 are two industry wage medians, not an interstate ranking or an individual quote; no state-level wage comparison was made this round. |
BLS OOH states that most work full time and that project deadlines or time-limited experiments may involve irregular hours or overtime; the O*NET specific responses are 31% working more than 40 hours and 93% having a regular schedule. OEWS excludes overtime and shift differentials and so on, so an individual's income composition cannot be inferred backwards.
The specific industry, product, quality system, qualifications and shift pattern are checked against the position; the industry wages in the table below allow comparison of statistical positions, and cross-sectional differences do not prove the independent wage effect of each factor.
The workplace is a laboratory or production site, and the O*NET work context shows 95% work indoors in a controlled environment every day, 80% wear common protective or safety equipment every day and 30% are exposed to contaminants every day; living and commuting arrangements should be considered together with the location of the work.
Employment 84.9 thousand in 2025 and projected 90.3 thousand in 2035；the official net increase of 5.5 thousand is rounded independently and is not overridden by recalculating from the endpoints.
Occupational-level projection for 2025—2035, faster than average；it contains assumptions and error and is not year-by-year actuals or an AI replacement rate.
Which Holland type suits chemists and materials scientists (combined occupation) better?
O*NET occupational interest IRC: Investigative 95, Realistic 78 and Conventional 64, describing the orientation of occupational activities, not the personality distribution of incumbents or an individual fit threshold. The work activity ratings of recording 85, analysing 80 and getting information 78 are occupational requirement scores; the suggested editorial approach is to self-check with method, data and recording tasks. The above refers to chemists 19-2031; materials scientists have separate task scores under IRC93/80/53, and the chemist values are not used to represent the merged occupational group.
Do not use it this way: The O*NET detail page has 20 work style items in full; innovation, achievement, intellectual curiosity, caution, integrity, attention to detail and dependability are a seven-item summary, not the complete list. Editorially self-check whether you can maintain fine operations, records and learning.
Test my Holland career interestsWhich Big Five traits are more relevant to this job?
The Big Five on this page is only for discussing ways of working, and no valid thresholds for performance in this occupation or item-by-item equivalence with O*NET styles have been established; caution is not directly equivalent to emotional stability. Accuracy extremely important 69%, repeating tasks extremely important 33% and consequences of error extremely serious 22%/very serious 37% are U.S. questionnaire responses.
Do not use it this way: Worth noting: mistaking caution for not daring to try new methods stalls method development; conducting validation trials under controlled conditions is also part of the duty.
View my Big Five personality traitsWhich MBTI type suits chemists and materials scientists (combined occupation) best?
No evidence on the validity of MBTI types for competence or hiring of chemists was obtained for this page, and no ranking by type is used. Type preferences cannot replace evidence of experimental, method, data and safety ability.
Do not use it this way: Worth noting: an MBTI type is not a recruitment condition, and this page provides no advice on screening positions by type.
Explore my MBTI preferencesWhich Enneagram type suits chemists and materials scientists (combined occupation) better?
No validating evidence for the Enneagram's fit with this occupation was obtained for this page, and type is not used for diagnosis or screening. Editorially self-check completing methods and records under supervision; keep data and report for anomalies, and check the procedure and conditions for retesting.
Do not use it this way: Worth noting: Enneagram interpretations easily slide into personality diagnosis, and this page does not use it to judge fit.
Explore my Enneagram patternsIf my IQ or maths is not good, can I be a chemist and materials scientist (combined occupation)?
The scientific method and mathematics demands of this occupation are fairly systematic: among the O*NET basic skills, science is 78, critical thinking and reading comprehension 75 each, speaking 72, active listening and mathematics and writing 69 each, active learning 66 and monitoring 63; the knowledge summary covers 9 items — chemistry, English language, mathematics, production and processing, administration and management, computers and electronics, clerical, physics, and engineering and technology (the full detail has 33 knowledge items and 52 ability items); transferable skills score highest for complex problem solving 66 and judgment and decision making and quality control analysis 56 each.
Do not use it this way: Editorial self-check: if you find it persistently difficult to check units, dilution and significant figures, fill the gap through training, supervision and review; a single test cannot predict persistent errors or an occupational destiny.
Understand my intelligence and reasoning performanceDo chemists and materials scientists (combined occupation) need high EQ?
This occupation requires continuous communication: the O*NET work context shows 92% use email every day, 74% have face-to-face discussions every day and 42% are in contact with others continuously, and the work activities communicating with supervisors, peers or subordinates 73 and training and teaching others and coordinating the work of others also rank highly; emotional intelligence here means making anomalies and uncertainty clear and holding to the evidence when collaborating with production and engineering, not needing high EQ to be competent.
Do not use it this way: Worth noting: treating communication as an extra burden and only minding your own batch of samples causes problems in anomaly escalation and collaboration.
Understand my emotional intelligence abilityFits better when: Editorial self-check: would rather study material structure, properties and new materials.
Watch for: Check material characterisation and research ability; it is not assumed that everyone needs a higher degree than chemists.
Explore related career: Materials scientistsFits better when: Editorial self-check: would rather take part in chemical processes, plant and scale-up design.
Watch for: Check process engineering design and safety ability; analytical experience does not automatically grant plant responsibility.
Explore related career: Chemical engineersFits better when: Editorial self-check: would rather develop material processing and schemes that meet engineering performance requirements.
Watch for: Check materials engineering, manufacturing process and scheme ability; it can overlap with materials research.
Explore related career: Materials engineersFits better when: Editorial self-check: would rather design and optimise people and equipment, processes and production systems.
Watch for: Check human factors, quality and logistics, efficiency and cost ability; a transfer follows personal experience.
Explore related career: Industrial engineersFits better when: Editorial self-check: would rather study the chemical and physical mechanisms of living systems.
Watch for: Check life science research training; both can do experimental research, so it is not an absolute divide between R&D and analysis.
Explore related career: Biochemists and biophysicistsFits better when: Editorial self-check: would rather organise a research team, budget and project resources.
Watch for: Check real management experience; managers may also do research, so the distinction is not absolute based on doing experiments personally.
Explore related career: Natural sciences managersNo. Reducing an occupation to the single best-suited personality conceals real differences: different industries and method systems differ greatly in their standards and judgment requirements. A more useful approach is to verify with a deliverable analysis or method record.
Yes. This occupation is mainly about methods and data, and the O*NET work activities show recording information 85 and analysing data 80; communication is mainly work-related discussion and reporting of results and does not require extraverted socialising.
Yes. Extraversion itself is neither an advantage nor a disadvantage; what matters is whether you can state results and limitations clearly; if you prefer independent work, you can choose relatively independent instrumental analysis positions.
No official evidence supports the idea that a particular MBTI type is better suited to this occupation; this page provides no such ranking.
IRC is a summary of the occupational interest orientation — Investigative 95, Realistic 78 and Conventional 64 — not the personality distribution of incumbents or an individual threshold; it must be checked with real tasks and abilities.
No validating evidence sufficient to predict performance in this occupation from personality scores was obtained for this page; no hiring or career fit decision is made on that basis.
The mathematical demands of this occupation are practical and systematic: among the O*NET basic skills, mathematics is 69 and science 78, and the knowledge list includes mathematics, physics and engineering and technology; if you find even concentration, dilution, stoichiometry and basic statistics persistently difficult, you need to fill the gap through systematic study, otherwise you will remain limited in method and data processing.
Chemists need to explain results, anomalies and limitations and collaborate with the team or customers; O*NET shows 73 for the activity of communicating with supervisors and colleagues. Customer communication and emotional demands cannot be excluded, nor are emotional intelligence scores used as a uniform threshold.
No validating evidence for the Enneagram's fit with chemists was obtained for this page, and occupations are not screened by type.
Editorial self-check: complete an analysis and its records under supervision and where permitted, calculate validation indicators, and keep evidence and report promptly when anomalies occur; retesting follows the conditions, procedure and authorization. Task preference cannot replace a qualification or hiring judgment.
Roles most affected：Analytical method and method development positions, and quality control positions
Possible consequence：A method that goes beyond the sample matrix or concentration range, or is used for a determination without sufficient validation, causes batch misjudgments and wrong release decisions, and in testing or compliance settings may also affect third-party decisions.
How to reduce risk：Method, matrix, range and validation indicators are checked against the actual sample and reporting purpose, and out-of-scope use requires validation and authorization; suggested editorial checking: keep raw records promptly for anomalies and report through the actual procedure; for investigation check the method, sample, instrument and quality control. Retesting or resampling is carried out only where the procedure allows and safety conditions and authorization are in place, and repeated testing must not be used to pick a passing value or to delay safety handling.
Evidence：O*NET-SOC 19-2031.00 occupational detailed profile · O*NET-SOC 19-2031.00 occupation summary
Typical scenario：Writing records up after the event or rewriting raw data from memory; deleting or adjusting individual data points without recording them in order to match expectations.
Roles most affected：Positions that perform experiments and record data
Possible consequence：Incomplete records or undocumented modifications may obstruct review, audit and accountability; it cannot be asserted across the board that every record gap makes all data untraceable. In China, probative testing records and reports must be kept for at least 6 years, and the periods for other R&D materials are checked against the system.
How to reduce risk：Write promptly and document modifications to the record management requirements; keep quality control, instrument calibration and personnel training records; record the handling process for anomalies and deviations to procedure.
Evidence：O*NET-SOC 19-2031.00 occupational detailed profile · O*NET-SOC 19-2031.00 Work Context field · China's Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Testing Institutions
Typical scenario：Omitting protection to save time or working in an unsuitable place; continuing to use reagents with unclear labels or beyond expiry; disposing of waste without sorting by category.
Roles most affected：Positions involving chemicals, instruments and sample pre-treatment
Possible consequence：Chemical contact, spills, glassware, pressure vessels and high temperature equipment can cause burns, poisoning and cuts; mixing waste or continuing to use expired reagents also brings compliance and incident risks.
How to reduce risk：Select protection and engineering controls according to the actual chemicals, safety data, risk assessment and procedure, and check labels, compatible storage, waste and emergency facilities; fume hoods, eyewash or showers cannot be written as the same configuration for all positions. U.S. 1910.1450 applies only to laboratory use within its definition and excludes production or simulated production; in China, when personal safety is directly endangered, work is stopped or possible emergency measures are taken and then evacuation follows with prompt reporting, without waiting for additional approval.
Evidence：O*NET-SOC 19-2031.00 occupational detailed profile · O*NET-SOC 19-2031.00 Work Context field · U.S. OSHA laboratory standard 1910.1450 · China's Work Safety Law
Typical scenario：Processing samples to the original conditions after leaving them at room temperature for a long time; continuing testing with expired instrument calibration or a failed check.
Roles most affected：Positions involving the management of samples, reagents and instrument status
Possible consequence：Abnormal samples, identification or instrument status may distort results and delay delivery; keep records first, report, and assess the affected scope, with investigation and re-inspection following the procedure, conditions and authorization, and not automatically declaring all data invalid or the whole batch for re-inspection.
How to reduce risk：Check sample flow and instrument verification and calibration, intermediate checks and changes to the method; an anomaly label cannot replace the report and impact assessment, and permission to use or restore follows the procedure.
Evidence：O*NET-SOC 19-2031.00 occupational detailed profile · O*NET-SOC 19-2031.00 occupation summary
Typical scenario：Photographing or transmitting controlled material externally without checking the scope of protection, permissions and terms of service; using a phone or an external tool does not by itself establish unlawfulness.
Roles most affected：Positions in contact with formulations, processes, testing and customer information
Possible consequence：Some formulations, customer and testing information may be protected by law, contract and unit rules; not all data or published patents are trade secrets. Check the actual classification, permissions and terms before external transmission.
How to reduce risk：Use tools according to the real data classification and permissions; restrictions on photography, personal devices and external transmission are checked against the unit's rules and the legal source, and a leak is not judged across the board from the equipment name; check authorization and document it before providing material.
Evidence：China's Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Testing Institutions · Suggested editorial checks
Typical scenario：Doing only repetitive testing on a single instrument for a long time, so that after moving to a new instrument or method you cannot independently complete validation and deviation judgments.
Roles most affected：All laboratory and analysis positions
Possible consequence：Editorial risk situation: familiarity with only a single method may require retraining when the instrument or method changes; no measured probability or wage loss for this occupation was obtained this round.
How to reduce risk：Learn analytical chemistry principles, instrument principles and quality requirements clearly, and make the transferable abilities (method validation, anomaly diagnosis, data and record management) explicit; take part proactively in confirmation and training when methods or instruments are updated.
Evidence：O*NET-SOC 19-2031.00 occupational detailed profile · ILO：Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure
| Position examples (entry and advanced) | What you mainly do early on the job | Editorial self-check: what the target position may assess | Examples of ability evidence (not all suit zero experience) | Differences from other directions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analytical testing (assistant level) | Completes routine sample handling and analysis to method and records it, and does not independently interpret anomalous results. | Whether the method is followed step by step, whether records are faithful, and whether anomalies are reported promptly. | Prove it with enterprise training assessment records or a practical score sheet, stating the steps and the basis for the judgments. | Compared with an independent analysis position it leans more to execution and recording, and the authority to interpret and escalate is limited. |
| Independent analytical chemist | Independently takes responsibility for the analysis and data processing of one class of methods and judges whether quality control is in control. | Understanding of the method, quality control judgment, and whether anomalies are handled within the authorized scope. | Prove it with quality control charts and anomaly handling records over a period. | Compared with an assistant position it carries interpretation responsibility, with higher record and reporting requirements. |
| Method or instrument lead | Responsible for method development and validation and instrument management and organises deviation investigations. | Method validation ability, instrument management, deviation investigation and rectification follow-up. | Prove it with method validation reports and deviation closed-loop records. | Compared with an analysis position it adds system and documentation responsibility, still to be exercised within the qualification and authorization scope. |
| Quality and compliance position | Reviews records and non-conformities and tracks rectification and takes part in internal and external audits. | Understanding of standards, record review, and whether rectification tracking closes the loop. | Prove it with audit records and a non-conformity ledger. | Compared with an analysis position it leans more to supervision and the system and usually does not independently issue testing data. |
| R&D support position | Supports experiments and data evaluation in method and product development. | Understanding of new methods, data evaluation ability, and cross-department communication. | Prove it with project participation records and data evaluation notes. | R&D support may also take on design, method development and data interpretation; project responsibility and the authority to conclude follow the real division of work and are not all assigned to the lead. |
The typical U.S. BLS entry is a bachelor's degree, with a master's or doctorate and experience for some research positions; this does not mean a uniform Chinese education requirement or a four-year programme with every employer.
Some enterprises require or prefer people with operating experience on specific instruments or methods (chromatography, spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and so on).
Qualifications are checked against the actual jurisdiction, unit and work or equipment category, and contact with hazardous chemicals does not automatically require the same certificate.
For probative inspection and testing activities in China, check the institutional qualification and the authorized signing scope; this does not cover all externally issued data.
Among the basic skills, science is 78, critical thinking and reading comprehension 75 each, speaking 72, and mathematics and writing and active listening 69 each;
Work activities score highest for recording information 85, analysing data 80 and getting information 78; among transferable skills complex problem solving is highest at 66.
Fictional raw data: a spectral data table containing two duplicate injections and one quality control sample result (including one result inconsistent with quality control and one unclear dilution factor annotation).
Fictional ledgers and records: a reagent and reference material lot number and expiry list, instrument calibration status records (including one instrument with a failed check), and sample handover and storage condition records.
Fictional shift conditions: two people on shift, the available fume hoods and protective equipment and waste classification requirements, and a fictional outline of the anomaly, non-conformity and spill handling process.
Step two: find the result inconsistent with quality control and the unclear dilution factor in the raw data, write out your review steps (including whether to retest and how to check reagent and instrument status), and state which situations must be reported.
Step three: for the instrument that failed the check and the waste that needs handling, write out the handling plans respectively and give the key points to be stated clearly at handover.
Evaluation basis: whether the checked items correspond one to one with the method requirements, whether self-retesting can be distinguished from must be reported, and whether the records contain traceable information such as time, sample number, reagent lot number and instrument number.
Forms of evidence include training assessment records, practical score sheets, course experimental reports and internship or on-the-job evaluations.
For items with no evidence, write clearly to be added and give a plan for filling the gap.
Review comments must give specific evidence (method clauses, the calculation process or data comparisons), not a feeling that something is wrong.
Write the review process into a handover-ready record for a third party to judge.
The summary must let a reviewer judge whether the results are usable and know what to do next.
Mastery of specific software is not required; what matters is that you can explain under what circumstances the data cannot be trusted.
| Stage | What may be assessed | Observation evidence | Usage boundaries |
|---|---|---|---|
| CV and initial screening | Education and major, the instruments and methods used, and acceptance of the laboratory environment and protection. | Whether the conditions and project experience match the real requirements of the position. | Initial screening can only see written information; method and instrument experience must be evidenced by practical or project experience. |
| Interview and method knowledge | Understanding of the principles of commonly used methods and safety specifications, and awareness of anomaly and deviation handling. | Keep records for anomalies first and report promptly, and investigate through the procedure; retesting checks the conditions and authorization and does not repeatedly pick passing values. |
Using the materials of the fictional case, extract the scope of application, sample pre-treatment, quality control requirements and acceptance rules into a check table.
Write a raw record following the method steps, noting the conditions, observations and basis for each step.
Find the result inconsistent with quality control and the unclear dilution factor in the raw data, and write out the review steps and the reasons for deciding whether to retest.
For an instrument that failed its check, write out the handling and alternative plan and the reporting path.
Check the reagent, reference material and sample storage conditions and write out the waste classification and handling plan.
Organize the judgments of the first five days into a one-page analytical results summary and ask someone else to check whether it is reproducible.
| Qualification / status | Who it mainly suits | Practical role in job hunting | Whether it is a general hiring threshold | Application / registration conditions | Investment level | Important limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. typical bachelor's degree (chemistry or a related major) | The common starting point for most entrants | Typical U.S. entry education; it does not guarantee hiring or determine every position series | Typical U.S. bachelor's degree; each employer and the actual Chinese conditions are checked separately | Completing a degree in chemistry, materials, medicinal chemistry or a related major; laboratory classes and the final-year project are the main source of methods |
Typical scope：Completes routine sample handling and analysis to method and records it, maintains instruments to procedure, and reports anomalies immediately.
Readiness evidence：Can provide a complete set of raw records and one quality control data check note and explain the basis for each step.
Credential boundary：U.S. typical bachelor's degree in chemistry or a related major; actual safety and method training and authorization are checked against the employer and jurisdiction. Chinese hazardous chemicals, special operations and equipment qualifications apply by category, and a uniform certificate is not required because of contact with chemicals.
Next moves：Understand the method principles and instrument principles clearly and practise explaining anomalies and unfinished items clearly at handover.
Typical scope：Responsible for methods and quality control within the actual authorization; keep records for anomalies and report promptly, and check the procedure and conditions for investigation and retesting.
Readiness evidence：Can present quality control charts and anomaly handling records over a period and explain which situations must be escalated.
Credential boundary：Obtain the corresponding position authorization within the enterprise; work involving external testing must be within the authorized scope.
Next moves：Learn adjacent methods and instruments and take part in one method validation.
Typical scope：Organises method development and validation and instrument management, investigates deviations and tracks rectification.
Readiness evidence：Can present method validation reports and deviation investigation and rectification closed-loop records.
Credential boundary：Some enterprises require the corresponding internal qualification or training records; the enterprise's rules and local regulations apply.
Next moves：Connect quality system requirements with analytical technique and practise mentoring new colleagues in methods and records.
Typical scope：Review or sign results within the authorized scope and support method development and validation for R&D projects.
Readiness evidence：Can present review records and project support results within the authorized scope.
Credential boundary：Article 2 of China's Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Testing Institutions applies to activities that issue reports with probative effect to society; Articles 8 and 12 cover the competence and technical scope of authorised signatories, and Article 13 requires original records and reports to be kept for at least 6 years. CMA or special qualifications are checked against the institution, project and legal source and are not an individual licence for every chemist or a uniform threshold for all externally issued data. No uniform continuing education conditions for the whole occupation were checked this round, and no specific system is generalised.
Next moves：Complete the qualification and authorization requirements of the jurisdiction and institution and distil experience into reusable method points.
Typical scope：Carries out experiments and data processing under the guidance of the project leader, preserves raw data to standard and takes part in results discussions.
Readiness evidence：Can present experimental records and one complete data analysis note.
Credential boundary：Complete the enterprise safety and R&D standards training and enter laboratory work under authorization.
Next moves：Organize the basic methods of experimental design and data processing into your own checklist.
Typical scope：Independently designs validation experiments and evaluates results, makes judgments on key indicators and forms method and formulation records.
Readiness evidence：Can present method validation records and formulation or process improvement records.
Credential boundary：Positions involving pilot or scale-up validation must complete the corresponding safety and process training.
Next moves：Learn statistical design of experiments methods and take part in one scale-up or customer validation.
Typical scope：Completes inspection items and record organization under guidance and becomes familiar with the reporting and investigation process for deviations and incidents.
Readiness evidence：Can present a complete inspection checklist and issue tracking table.
Credential boundary：A stage name does not exempt safety education or qualifications; before entering the site check the unit, the work category, the risks and the training authorization, and do not describe the condition uniformly as having no mandatory requirement.
Next moves：Systematically learn the rules on hazardous chemicals, special equipment and inspection and testing.
Typical scope：Independently carries out unit-level quality or safety inspections, proposes rectification suggestions and tracks them to closure.
Readiness evidence：Can present inspection reports and rectification closed-loop evidence.
Credential boundary：Some positions require the corresponding work qualification or the appointment conditions for safety management personnel; local rules apply.
Next moves：Turn regulatory requirements into executable checklist items and practise explaining risk trade-offs in reviews.
Can complete routine analysis to method under the supervision of others and record faithfully, complete sample handling and routine instrument maintenance to procedure, and report anomalies truthfully rather than concealing them or modifying data.
Can independently take responsibility for one class of methods or the operation of one instrument, judge whether quality control data are in control, handle anomalies to procedure and complete full raw records and reports.
Can take on method development or validation or quality system work, organise deviation investigations and rectification follow-up, and be responsible for the data quality and record compliance of the group.
Can take a key role in external testing or product development, sign or review results to the qualification and authorization requirements, and hold the corresponding qualifications and authorization.
United States · Main statistical framing: U.S. chemists SOC19-2031; materials scientists 19-2032 and the combined 19-2030 are placed alongside only
growth of 6.4% (2025—2035; OOH whole number 6%)
Employment growth rate
U.S. chemist occupational-level growth of 6.4%, with the OOH whole number 6% being faster than average; the projection contains assumptions and error and is not an AI attribution or year-by-year actuals.
Does not establish：It is a national occupational-level projection and does not distinguish industry or region; it also cannot be used to infer the number of opportunities at a given enterprise or city.
Global (across economies) · Cross-economy, occupational level (not official statistics of a single country)
Exposure ranking and measurement method
Generative AI occupational exposure index
The study provides an occupational-level generative AI exposure index for comparing the degree of task exposure between occupations and does not provide job gain or loss predictions.
Does not establish：It is an exposure measure rather than an adoption or automation rate; the cross-economy framing differs from national statistical framings and cannot be converted directly into job changes in the United States or China.
Chinese mainland · Chinese mainland (no one-to-one corresponding occupational sub-category established)
Insufficient evidence: no Chinese mainland national wage framing for this position was obtained
Chinese precise gap and the manufacturing and scientific and technical services wage background
The precise Chinese occupational wage and employment gap is retained; NBS2025 gives Chinese urban non-private and private annual average wages of 113,594/76,055 CNY for manufacturing and 182,064/83,560 CNY for scientific research and technical services. The four values are broad industry background, not wages specific to chemists or to chemical manufacturing or testing sub-sectors, and not a median, starting pay, take-home income or regional monthly wage.
Does not establish：The four industry averages serve only as background and do not replace national occupational percentiles or the employment projection for chemists; the U.S. industry structure does not equal the Chinese distribution.
These are capability relationships, not automatic promotions or credential waivers.
Transfers：Shared abilities: understanding of processes and unit operations, analytical data ability, on-site problem identification and safety awareness.
Build next：Editorial transfer self-check: check whether you already have systematic training in process and plant design, scale-up judgments and process documentation preparation; the actual education and qualifications are checked against the target position. Existing experience is checked by results, and it is not assumed that every chemist lacks all of it.
View career profileTransfers：Shared abilities: material characterisation and chemical analysis data, quality awareness, and experimental design fundamentals.
Build next：Editorial transfer self-check: check whether you already have systematic training and the corresponding education in material performance, selection and failure analysis. Existing experience is checked by results, and it is not assumed that every chemist lacks all of it.
View career profileTransfers：Shared abilities: data analysis, process understanding, and cross-department collaboration.
Build next：Editorial transfer self-check: check whether you already have systematic training in processes and efficiency and people and machines and scheduling and cost. Existing experience is checked by results, and it is not assumed that every chemist lacks all of it.
View career profileTransfers：Shared abilities: experimental technique, data recording and analysis, and academic writing and collaboration.
Build next：Editorial transfer self-check: check whether you already have dedicated training and research accumulation in the molecular mechanisms of living systems. Existing experience is checked by results, and it is not assumed that every chemist lacks all of it.
View career profileTransfers：Shared abilities: research organisation, standards awareness, cross-department communication and report writing.
Build next：Editorial transfer self-check: check whether you already have experience of team, budget, project and performance management. Existing experience is checked by results, and it is not assumed that every chemist lacks all of it.
View career profileTransfers：Shared abilities: data analysis, experimental design, project collaboration and standards awareness.
Build next：Editorial transfer self-check: check whether you already have systematic training in engineering devices and material development and validation. Existing experience is checked by results, and it is not assumed that every chemist lacks all of it.
View career profileTransfers：Shared abilities: material characterisation and chemical analysis, experimental design and data interpretation.
Build next：Editorial transfer self-check: check whether you already have research training in materials science and deep accumulation in the material characterisation direction. Existing experience is checked by results, and it is not assumed that every chemist lacks all of it.
View career profileTransfers：Shared abilities: analytical chemistry and instrumental methods, data processing, and experimental records and standards.
Build next：Editorial transfer self-check: chemical technicians focus on experimental support, analysis, equipment and records and may also take part in formulation, research, pilot plants or new processes. Check the execution and on-site ability and the specific division of work, and do not wrongly describe the target as lacking independent research and system building.
View career profileThe public materials do not support this conclusion. The core tasks of this occupation are mainly experimental design and analysis, method development and validation, anomaly judgment and safety assessment, and confirming method applicability, interpreting unexpected data and handling safety anomalies on the laboratory floor all require people responsible for the data and safety. The BLS projection for 2024—2034 is growth of 5% with 6,300 openings per year on average, which is an employment scale projection and not a replacement rate.
Steps with structured input: spectrum parsing and result compilation, data organization and chart generation, report and standards drafts, and retrieval and organizing regulatory limits. Steps that must be judged on site and carry safety responsibility are affected later.
Science (O*NET basic skill importance 78), critical thinking and reading comprehension (75 each), speaking (72), active listening and mathematics and writing (69 each); work activities are highest for recording information (85) and analysing data (80); transferable skills are relatively high for complex problem solving (66) and quality control analysis (56); in work styles, innovation, intellectual curiosity, attention to detail and dependability are key.
BLS OEWS May 2025 framing: the 10th, 25th, median, 75th and 90th percentiles of annual salary are 58,460 / 69,460 / 91,240 / 125,550 / 160,830 USD; the same percentiles for hourly pay are 28.11 / 33.39 / 43.87 / 60.36 / 77.32 USD. BLS OOH separately gives chemist industry medians (May 2025): chemical manufacturing 88,890, testing laboratories and services 66,140, scientific research and development services 105,930, federal government 137,720 and state and local government 81,830 USD/year.
O*NET lists this occupation as Job Zone Four (considerable preparation needed), SVP range 7.0 to below 8.0; BLS shows that most positions require a four-year bachelor's degree and some (such as research positions) require a master's or doctorate.
Entry to this occupation in the United States does not require a licence, but enterprises usually require completion of internal safety and quality training and work under job authorization. The O*NET certification page for this occupation lists 10 national certifications (Approved Chemist, Chemical Hygiene Officer, Certified Professional Chemist, Qualified Environmental Professional and others), which are evidence of ability and an employer preference and not a practice qualification. In Chinese mainland, positions involving hazardous chemicals and special equipment work have separate work safety and special operation rules; institutions that issue testing data externally have separate inspection and testing institution qualification accreditation and authorised signatory requirements.
Transferring from adjacent chemical production, inspection and testing, or pharmaceutical R&D positions is relatively easy, but the method systems, quality standards and instrument operation knowledge of this occupation must be filled in; transferring from an office position usually requires readjusting to the laboratory environment, protection and repetitive analysis. The specific recognition method depends on the enterprise's rules, and this page draws no uniform conclusion.
It depends on your goal: if you are willing to do experiments and data under method standards over the long term and hope to exchange method development experience and quality ability for a more stable position and higher responsibility, this occupation offers a clear technical and quality system path; BLS projects employment growth of 5% for this occupation over 2024—2034 (faster than the average for all occupations), but research positions demand more in terms of results and education. If you would rather design processes or do engineering scale-up, you need to complete separate education and engineering ability preparation. This page only provides facts and boundaries and does not replace a personal decision.
This evidence route records the precise occupational wage as verified unavailable: public statistics provide average wages by industry sector and broader occupational framing, but there is no national median and percentile for the single occupation of chemist; this page does not fill the gap with industry averages, recruitment quotes or conversion from U.S. figures, and only marks the gap in its originally visible position and explains the search scope.
Wages use the BLS OEWS May 2025 national framing (shown via the O*NET National Wages and BLS OOH pages); the wage and employment figures on this page use the chemist sub-item (median 91,240 USD) and do not use the combined 'Chemists and Materials Scientists' framing on the same BLS OOH page (95,060 USD) or the materials scientist value (117,790 USD); industry medians use the BLS OOH chemist sub-item May 2025 framing; employment and outlook use the BLS 2024—2034 employment projection (shown via the O*NET Employment Trends page); both take U.S. wage and salary positions as their object and are not mixed with the Chinese mainland framing.
No. The exercise materials and data are all fictional and are used only to practise checking and recording methods; they must not be used for real testing, reporting or safety and quality determinations, and real analysis must be carried out by personnel who have completed training and obtained the corresponding authorization, to validated methods and applicable specifications.
FermatMind checked nine modules this round: O*NET19-2031 tasks, context and technology, OEWS2025 wages, and the BLS Table 1.2 2025—2035 projection; the Chinese industry wage background and the inspection and testing and safety laws are each scoped separately. Editorial uses, fit and transfer distance are not presented as measured results. The merged route keeps its identity with 19-2031 as the main framing; the preparation, interest and tasks and the sub-item projection for 19-2032 were newly checked, and the 19-2030 combination boundary was made explicit.
The nine modules were searched and revised this round on 2026-10-09; content outside the scope was not updated in step, and no HTML or full page acceptance was generated.
This round used the O*NET detail, wage, industry, technology and certification directory pages, the BLS occupational projection and method, NBS2025 Tables 2 and 5, specific SAMR regulations and the OSHA laboratory standard. The original 17 sources and 21 facts are kept for consumers outside the protected scope; the current conclusions of the nine modules use this round's ch-* sources and facts and body text, and the old FAQ, quick decisions and independent direction conflicts are left for their authorised revision.
Limitations：Supports the precise occupational identity, the 12 tasks, work activities, skills and the technology list; it does not include Chinese qualifications or specific enterprise and method documents.
Limitations：Supports occupational characteristics, knowledge (9 items), abilities (23 items), work styles (7 items) and the IRC interest code; the labels are not a hiring threshold or a personality diagnosis.
Limitations：Supports the U.S. employment industry structure (manufacturing 37%, professional and scientific and technical services 32%, government 12%, other 19%); it is not a guarantee of individual income.
Limitations：Recruitment keywords are market signals and do not equal proficiency, adoption rates or long-term trends.
Limitations：Supports the preparation level (Job Zone Four, SVP 7.0 to below 8.0) and the training entry; it does not replace Chinese position or qualification requirements.
Limitations：Supports certification discovery (the occupation page lists 10 national certifications); it does not prove that any certification is recognised by a specific employer.
Limitations：Supports the chemist national median and industry medians; the combined and materials scientist values on the same page use other framings and are not mixed in on this page.
Limitations：Supports the employment projection (86,800 people in 2024 → 91,000 in 2034, growth of 5%, 6,300 openings per year on average); the projection contains assumptions and error.
Limitations：It is an industry sector and broader occupational framing and not the occupational-level framing for this occupation; on this basis this page registers only the gap and publishes no figures.
Limitations：Supports the position mapping boundary explanation; this page does not use it to establish a one-to-one correspondence with O*NET-SOC 19-2031.00.
Limitations：Supports the statement that work involving hazardous chemicals and special equipment has separate work safety and special operation rules, and that institutions issuing testing data externally have separate qualification accreditation and authorised signatory requirements; this page does not replace the official conditions.
Limitations：It is an exposure measure, not an adoption rate, automation rate or job reduction prediction; the cross-economy framing cannot be converted directly into national job changes.
Limitations：It is editorial synthesis and fictional material, not research findings or industry fact; it must not be used for real testing, reporting or safety and quality determinations.
Limitations：Supports the percentage distribution of the work context (exposure, accuracy, autonomy, scheduling); it is a respondent distribution and not a guarantee for an individual position.
Limitations：Supports the 10th, 25th, median, 75th and 90th percentiles of annual and hourly pay; individual annual pay or take-home income cannot be derived from them.
Limitations：Supports the adjacent occupation notes (this route registers natural-sciences-managers, biomedical-engineers, chemical-engineers, industrial-engineers, materials-engineers); the comparison is editorial.
Limitations：Supports the coverage, inclusions and exclusions and the standard work year conversion framing of the wage statistics; it is not used to infer individual income.
Limitations：12 core tasks, 57 context items, 33 knowledge items, 52 ability items, 20 style items, 16 software categories, IRC95/78/64; the questionnaire is not a personal guarantee
Limitations：Annual salary quintiles 58460/69460/91240/125550/160830; hourly 28.11/33.39/43.87/60.36/77.32; employed includes full-time and part-time and excludes the self-employed and individual starting pay
Limitations：SOC19-2031: 84.9 → 90.3 thousand, official net 5.5 thousand rounded independently, 6.4%, 5.9 thousand openings per year on average, self-employed 0.3%; typical bachelor's degree, experience None, OJT None does not mean no training
Limitations：Chemist median 91240, 5 industry wages; chemical manufacturing employment 33%; the parent group 19-2030 combination 95060/7%/6500 is not transplanted, and some research positions require a master's or doctorate plus experience
Limitations：Manufacturing non-private 113594/private 76055, scientific research and technical services 182064/83560; legal entities with 5 or more employees and those deemed equivalent by regulation, pre-tax industry averages, not chemists, sub-sectors, a median or take-home pay
Limitations：Full-time and part-time employed; pre-tax wages for normal working hours, excluding the self-employed, overtime and shift differentials and so on; the 2080 standard conversion does not equal an individual's actual hours
Limitations：Manufacturing 41%, professional and scientific and technical services 29%, government 12%, other 18%; not the Chinese occupational distribution, individual income or laboratory operating procedures
Limitations：15 Hot; Excel11/Office9/PowerPoint7 are the 3 In Demand items; Word3/SQL2/SAP2/R1, with some below 1 or not provided; not the full 16 software categories or an AI adoption rate
Limitations：Lists 10 items; it does not prove statutory licensing, employer recognition, hiring credit, fees, application or renewal conditions; the issuing bodies' original texts were not obtained
Limitations：Article 2 covers activities issuing probative reports to society, 8/12 the signing competence and scope, and 13 requires records and reports to be kept for at least 6 years; this does not cover all R&D externally issued data or an individual licence for chemists
Limitations：(a)/(b) laboratory use and the non-production/non-simulated production boundary; (e)/(f) the chemical hygiene plan, protection and training, not a globally uniform facility list
Limitations：27/28/30/33 and 55/57—59: safety personnel for specified units, education, category qualifications and protection; emergency evacuation and reporting do not wait for additional approval, and not every chemist is a registered safety engineer
Limitations：A voluntary governance reference, with no occupational adoption, reliability, effect or statutory signing authority
Limitations：This round actually read the occupational definitions to check the comparison objects; the transfer gap and distance are a personal condition self-check, not a measured success rate or qualification authorization
Limitations：This round actually read the occupational definitions to check the comparison objects; the transfer gap and distance are a personal condition self-check, not a measured success rate or qualification authorization
Limitations：This round actually read the occupational definitions to check the comparison objects; the transfer gap and distance are a personal condition self-check, not a measured success rate or qualification authorization
Limitations：This round actually read the occupational definitions to check the comparison objects; the transfer gap and distance are a personal condition self-check, not a measured success rate or qualification authorization
Limitations：This round actually read the occupational definitions to check the comparison objects; the transfer gap and distance are a personal condition self-check, not a measured success rate or qualification authorization
Limitations：This round actually read the occupational definitions to check the comparison objects; the transfer gap and distance are a personal condition self-check, not a measured success rate or qualification authorization
Limitations：This round actually read the occupational definitions to check the comparison objects; the transfer gap and distance are a personal condition self-check, not a measured success rate or qualification authorization
Limitations：This round actually read the occupational definitions to check the comparison objects; the transfer gap and distance are a personal condition self-check, not a measured success rate or qualification authorization
Limitations：JobZone4/SVP7 to <8; IRC93/80/53; 17 tasks, 15Core/1Supplemental/1New, no importance provided; 2025 employment 8600; wages 117790/56.63; 2025—2035 openings 600; 43% and 35%; not chemist values
Usage note: this page is occupational information and does not constitute testing, safe operation, practice, legal, investment or medical advice; decisions involving hazardous chemicals and special equipment work, inspection and testing qualification accreditation and laboratory safety must be based on the applicable regulations, the original method documents and the opinion of personnel with the corresponding authorization.
MBTI (English) · Big Five (English) · MBTI (Chinese) · Big Five (Chinese)
Developing or improving analytical and testing methods and validating their applicability
| Sample handling, instrumental analysis and testing, method development and validation, data processing and reporting, instrument maintenance, safety assessment, and purchasing and inventory |
| Main outputs | Industrial engineers and process engineers focus on processes and on people, machines and efficiency; this occupation focuses on laboratory methods and data | Experimental and analytical raw records, method and validation records, instrument maintenance and fault records, reports and draft standards and specifications, and safety assessment records |
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| Responsible party | What this page presents is the boundary of tasks and outputs and does not constitute any enterprise system or statutory allocation of duties | Experiments, method development and data interpretation can be carried out by chemists; method confirmation, report signing and product release are checked against the specific duties and authorization, and chemists themselves may also hold the corresponding authority. |
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| Access and licensing | Article 2 of China's Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Testing Institutions applies to activities that issue reports with probative effect to society; Articles 8 and 12 cover the competence and technical scope of authorised signatories, and Article 13 requires original records and reports to be kept for at least 6 years. CMA or special qualifications are checked against the institution, project and legal source and are not an individual licence for every chemist or a uniform threshold for all externally issued data. Safety education, protection and special operation and equipment qualifications are checked against the actual unit and category, and a uniform certificate is not inferred from contact with hazardous chemicals. | The typical U.S. BLS entry is a bachelor's degree in chemistry or a related major; OOH notes that some research positions require a master's or doctorate plus experience. The EP listing gives None for experience and typical on-the-job training, which does not mean every unit needs no equipment or safety training; job authorization cannot be obtained automatically from education. |
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| Boundary of the conclusion | Cross-position comparison checks the industry, product, methods and quality system, actual duties and authority; similar tasks do not guarantee the same responsibility, nor do they prove that responsibility is entirely different. | The conclusions apply only to the O*NET and BLS framing and period noted on this page |
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Judgment four: are the raw data complete and traceable
Judgment five: do quality control and trends support the conclusion
Judgment six: are safety procedures actually executed
Instrument data systems (ChemStation, Empower and so on) and laboratory information management systems;
Statistical and data analysis tools (Minitab, Excel, R) and cheminformatics software (ChemDraw and so on).
Multiple reasonable approaches are allowed; if you consider some data insufficient for a judgment, state clearly which parts are insufficient and what additional information is needed.
The methods and data given in the question are fictional values used only to practise checking and recording methods.
| Question and answer is not the same as practical work; the target employer's training and assessment requirements are checked separately, and no Chinese recruitment sample statistics were obtained this round. |
| Practical or simulation | Completes one sample handling or data processing or instrument operation simulation to method. | Completeness of steps, compliance of records, and handling of units, dilution and significant figures. | The simulated environment differs from the complexity of real samples, and the result is for reference rather than a final conclusion. |
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| Probation or on-the-job period | Carries out actual analysis under the supervision of on-the-job staff and accepts review. | Whether the method is followed, whether records are faithful, and how quickly problems are corrected after being pointed out. | Performance during the on-the-job period does not equal a long-term capability ceiling, and the quality of mentoring and the sample type have a large influence. |
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Answer three questions: are you willing to repeat this; which step engaged you most; and which fundamental (method, instrument, data, or safety and standards) will you fill in next week.
| The degree itself is not a work qualification or testing authorization, nor does it mean you can independently issue external reports |
| Master's or doctoral degree | R&D positions and university and institute positions | Required for some research positions; not a uniform condition for all R&D | Depends on the position type | Completing postgraduate research and a thesis; the research direction must match the position | High (several years of study) | The degree level affects the position series you can enter, and this page does not infer income from it |
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| Internal enterprise safety and quality training and position authorization | The actual unit and personnel to whom the work applies | It is a prerequisite for actual work | Where training and institutional authorization are required by law, check the specific legal source | Authorization is obtained under the enterprise's training and assessment system; special operations additionally require certification | No duration or cost was checked this round, and no general value of several days to several weeks is given | Authorization is bound to the enterprise, and after changing units retraining and reauthorization are usually required |
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| Statutory work or equipment qualification (by specific category) | Workers who legally fall within the corresponding qualification category | It is a substantive condition for the corresponding positions | Depends on the work category involved in the position | Attend training and assessment under the rules of the local competent department; the specific conditions follow the official publication | No specific qualification fees or periods were checked this round | Work qualifications are managed by category and region, and the validity period and scope of work must be checked; this page does not replace the official conditions |
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| Industry certifications (chemistry, safety and environment related) | People who want to demonstrate ability in a specific direction | Used to discover potential ability evidence; employer recognition or hiring credit was not checked | No | Each certification body sets its own application conditions and examination requirements, which must be verified item by item | The fees and periods of each certification were not checked this round | Industry certification is not a statutory work qualification and does not replace enterprise authorization or qualification accreditation |
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| Inspection and testing institution qualification and authorised signatory requirements | Institutions and signing positions in China to which probative testing applies | It is a substantive condition for the corresponding positions | Applies by institution, project, report purpose and legal source | Apply for institutional qualification accreditation under the competent department's rules and determine the authorised signatory; the conditions follow the official publication | No fees or processing periods were checked this round | The qualification and authorized scope are determined by the institution and project, and this page does not replace the official conditions |
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The certification information on this page comes from the O*NET certification discovery entry, and its application conditions, validity period and scope of recognition must be verified against the original text of each certification body; this page does not guarantee that any certification is recognised by a specific employer or jurisdiction.
Typical scope：Responsible for technical route selection and scheme review, coordinating production, quality and purchasing to drive implementation.
Readiness evidence：Can present technical schemes and review records and an evaluation of the implementation effect.
Credential boundary：Some enterprises require the corresponding professional education or internal qualification; the enterprise's rules apply.
Next moves：Turn customer requirements into verifiable technical indicators and practise cross-department communication.
Typical scope：Responsible for the technical route and key conclusions, holding to the evidence in disputes and bearing the responsibility to explain.
Readiness evidence：Can present a case of handling matters on the evidence under pressure while keeping complete records.
Credential boundary：Positions requiring signatures must have the corresponding jurisdiction qualification and institutional authorization.
Next moves：Complete the qualification requirements of the jurisdiction and institution and take part in industry technical exchange.
Typical scope：Responsible for system operation: organising inspection, audit and training, and being responsible for communicating and escalating non-conformities and major risks.
Readiness evidence：Can present system operation records and non-conformity handling and escalation records.
Credential boundary：Article 27 of China's Work Safety Law sets a registered safety engineer requirement for the safety management personnel of specified units such as those producing and storing dangerous goods; it is not a uniform qualification for all chemists, and the actual unit and appointment duties must be checked.
Next moves：Build a mechanism for tracking regulatory updates and drive cross-department rectification.
Typical scope：Responsible for compliance and rectification conclusions, holding to the evidence in disputes and bearing the responsibility to explain.
Readiness evidence：Can present a case of handling matters on the evidence under pressure while keeping complete records.
Credential boundary：Positions requiring signatures must have the corresponding jurisdiction qualification and institutional authorization.
Next moves：Completes the qualification requirements of the jurisdiction and takes part in experience feedback from industry and regulators.
Limitations：Editorial ratings use the existing occupational responsibilities and AI task analysis on this page. They are not adoption rates, measured effects, job-disappearance or personal-unemployment probabilities, or official scores from Stanford or another external institution. No measured time weights or future robot deployment are assumed.
