DePauw University: Career Services Center

CHEMISTRY

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A knowledge of chemistry is important for any educated person because chemistry affects so many aspects of our personal and corporate lives. Coursework in chemistry naturally prepares one to understand the physical and living worlds; it also prepares one to make scientifically informed contributions to many other fields and to society. The fields of environmental law and policy, bioethics, patent law, health care and education are examples of areas where chemical knowledge is needed. There are many career paths available to the chemistry major, including employment in such fields as law, environmental monitoring, technical sales/management and the pharmaceutical industry. Many chemistry majors also pursue graduate studies in chemistry, biochemistry or medicine.

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

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

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

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

Related Career Titles for Chemistry Majors

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