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Chemist
Science & ResearchYou mix chemicals, analyze compounds, and run experiments that either prove or disprove hypotheses — usually disprove. You'll work in labs for pharmaceutical companies, food manufacturers, or research institutions, wearing a lab coat and safety goggles that fog up every time you breathe. Breaking Bad made this look exciting; the reality is more titrations and less drama.
Salary Range
Low
$50k
Median
$80k
High
$120k
10-Year Growth
average
US Workers
91K
Education
Bachelor's in Chemistry (Master's or PhD for research/senior roles)
Environment
indoor
Tools & Technical Skills
- ▸Analytical instrumentation (HPLC, GC-MS, NMR, IR spectroscopy)
- ▸Lab safety protocols and chemical handling
- ▸Quality control and method validation
- ▸Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)
- ▸Organic and inorganic synthesis techniques
- ▸Statistical analysis of experimental data
People & Mindset Skills
- ▸Precision and accuracy
- ▸Critical thinking
- ▸Documentation discipline
- ▸Collaboration in research teams
- ▸Problem-solving
What you'll actually do
- 01Run experiments that take hours to set up, seconds to fail, and days to troubleshoot
- 02Analyze samples using instruments with names like 'mass spectrometer' and 'gas chromatograph'
- 03Maintain meticulous lab notebooks because if you didn't document it, it didn't happen
- 04Follow safety protocols that exist because someone before you learned the hard way
- 05Write up results for journals that take 6 months to peer-review a paper you wrote in a week
- 06Calibrate instruments so often you start dreaming about standard curves
Related Shifts
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