Chemical Technician
Chemical Technician
Career Overview
Chemical Technicians test chemicals, materials, and products in laboratories, manufacturing facilities, and research settings. They use scientific equipment, analytical instruments, and computer systems to analyze samples, check quality, and help scientists and engineers solve problems. Modern laboratories increasingly use automation, digital data systems, advanced instruments, and AI-supported analysis.
Education
A college diploma or technical program in chemical technology, chemical engineering technology, biochemistry, or a related field is the usual pathway. Chemical technician programs generally take one or two years, and some employers may provide additional on-the-job training.
Work Environment
Chemical Technicians work in laboratories, manufacturing plants, pharmaceutical companies, environmental testing facilities, research centres, and quality-control departments. They may work with chemicals, laboratory instruments, automated equipment, and computer systems while following strict safety procedures. Some jobs involve working with scientists and engineers on new products, cleaner processes, environmental testing, and quality control.
Future Outlook
Chemical Technicians will continue to support research, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, environmental protection, materials development, and quality control. Automation will handle more routine testing, but technicians will remain important for operating advanced equipment, interpreting results, troubleshooting, and maintaining quality and safety standards. People who combine chemistry with computer skills, data analysis, automation, and modern laboratory technology will be well positioned for the future.
Recommended High School Courses
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Math
- Computer Science
- Physics
- Environmental Science
- Laboratory Methods
- Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
- Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
- Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
- Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
- Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
- Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
- Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
- Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
- Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
- Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
- Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Visual Color Discrimination - The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Analyze chemical compounds or substances.
- Interpret research or operational data.
- Clean objects.
- Maintain laboratory or technical equipment.
- Set up laboratory or field equipment.
- Evaluate quality of materials or products.
- Prepare compounds or solutions for products or testing.
- Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
- Train personnel in technical or scientific procedures.
- Supervise scientific or technical personnel.
- Develop new or advanced products or production methods.
- Operate laboratory or field equipment.
- Manage scientific or technical project resources.
Schools
Arizona State University
Assumption College
Auburn University
Augustana University
Bates College
Bethel University
Boston College
Bowling Green State Unive...
Bradley University
Brandeis University
Brazosport College
Cal Poly Pomona
Cape Fear Community Colle...
Central New Mexico Commun...
Cincinnati State Technica...
Ferris State University
Florida State College At...
Indiana University-purdue...
Ivy Tech Community Colleg...
Lamar University
Lansing Community College
Lawrence Technological Un...
Miami Dade College- Wolfs...
Middlebury College
Murray State University
Northern Kentucky Univers...
Sacramento City College
Salt Lake Community Colle...
Suny Corning Community Co...
Suny Mohawk Valley Commun...
University Of California-...
University Of Cincinnati
Weber State University- O...
British Columbia Insti...
Cambrian College
Durham College- Oshawa...
Fanshawe College- Lond...
Lakehead University- O...
Lambton College
Loyalist College
Mohawk College- Fennel...
Okanagan College- Kelo...
Sait - Southern Albert...
Saskatchewan Polytechn...
Seneca College- Seneca...
Sheridan College Insti...
St. Clair College
St. Claire College- Wi...
University Of Regina
Approx Salary Expectation
Low End:
$39,000.00 /yr
Avg/Med:
$58,000.00 /yr
High End:
$91,000.00 /yr
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.