|Quick Facts: Chemical Technicians|
|2012 Median Pay||
$42,920 per year
$20.64 per hour
|Entry-Level Education||Associate’s degree|
|Work Experience in a Related Occupation||None|
|On-the-job Training||Moderate-term on-the-job training|
|Number of Jobs, 2012||63,600|
|Job Outlook, 2012-22||9% (As fast as average)|
|Employment Change, 2012-22||6,000|
Chemical technicians use special instruments and techniques to help chemists and chemical engineers research, develop, and produce chemical products and processes.
Technicians typically work in laboratories, where they conduct experiments, or in manufacturing facilities, such as chemical or pharmaceutical manufacturing plants, where they monitor production processes. Most technicians work full time.
Chemical technicians need an associate’s degree or 2 years of postsecondary education for most jobs. Most chemical technicians receive on-the-job training.
The median annual wage for chemical technicians was $42,920 in May 2012.
Employment of chemical technicians is projected to grow 9 percent from 2012 to 2022, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Graduates of applied science technology programs who are trained to use equipment typically found in laboratories or production facilities should have the best opportunities.
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of chemical technicians with similar occupations.
Learn more about chemical technicians by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.