What companies hire analytical chemists?

Companies in medical device manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, and research and development industries hire analytical chemists. These are the prime examples of industries that hire these professionals, however, analytical chemists can also find work in many other industries, such as consumer goods and environmental testing.

What is an analytical chemist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Expert

Dr. Betsy Smith

An analytical chemist uses chemical principles to identify and quantify the chemical components of substances. They analyze samples using chromatography, spectroscopy, and electrochemistry. They work in industries including pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, and environmental testing. Analytical chemists have strong attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and knowledge of laboratory safety. They may also develop and validate analytical methods, interpret data, and communicate findings. Overall, analytical chemists gather information about the chemical properties of substances.

What general advice would you give to an Analytical Chemist?

Dr. Betsy Smith

Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Elmira College

I would advise students just graduating to be flexible and open-minded in their job search. Chemistry is a challenging major, and students who succeed in it have learned how to learn, so they shouldn't assume that pure chemistry is the only thing they can do. One growing field is biomedical research, and chemistry majors are often qualified for jobs in that area. If you have other strengths like writing, there are often jobs that can combine them as a technical writer or work for a science journal. There are jobs out there that might be perfect for you that you haven't heard of until you see an ad for it, so be open to different possibilities.

ScoreAnalytical ChemistUS Average

Salary

4.8

Avg. Salary $61,573

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

5.7

Growth Rate 6%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.25%

Asian 19.21%

Black or African American 8.01%

Hispanic or Latino 9.45%

Unknown 4.61%

White 58.47%

Gender

female 40.40%

male 59.60%

Age - 40

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 40

Stress Level

5.7

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

10.0

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

6.2

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an Analytical Chemist?

Pros

High demand for analytical chemists in a variety of industries
Good salary and benefits packages
Potential for career growth and advancement
Transferable skills that can be applied to other fields
Ability to make a tangible impact on society through research and development

Cons

Exposure to hazardous chemicals and materials
Limited job opportunities in certain geographic areas
Potential for isolation or lack of social interaction during lab work
Limited opportunities for creativity or independent decision-making in certain roles
Possibility of working on projects that are ultimately unsuccessful or unfulfilling

Key steps to become an analytical chemist

Explore analytical chemist education requirements

Most common analytical chemist degrees

Bachelor's

79.4 %

Master's

12.4 %

Associate

4.3 %

Start to develop specific analytical chemist skills

Skills	Percentages
Method Development	9.00%
HPLC	7.73%
Laboratory Equipment	7.70%
GMP	4.31%
GC	3.71%

Complete relevant analytical chemist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New analytical chemists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an analytical chemist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real analytical chemist resumes.

Research analytical chemist duties and responsibilities

Perform analysis of organic components on various samples using GC, AA, and wet chemical analysis.
Apply ICP-MS, ICP-OES, and AA to analyses of aqueous and acidic extracts of many geological materials.
Analyze generic pharmaceutical preparations utilizing HPLC and dissolution apparatus to ensure content and uniformity in accordance with FDA and USP monographs.
Develop novel FT-IR, UV/VIS stopped-flow kinetic methods.

Prepare your analytical chemist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your analytical chemist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an analytical chemist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Analytical Chemist Resume templates

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Apply for analytical chemist jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an analytical chemist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do analytical chemists rate their job?

-/5

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1 Star

Analytical Chemist reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2019

Pros

To discover new formulas and mixtures thats can break through the science world

Cons

I do not have a bachelor in chemistry but i do have a associate's in biology from the university of belize.