CHEMISTS
Nearly half of all chemists are employed by manufacturing companies.
The chemical manufacturing industry includes companies that produce paints,
soaps, cleaners, drugs, plastics, and other chemical products. Chemists
also work for federal agencies, state, and local governments. Health and
Human Services, which includes the Center for Disease Control, the National
Institutes of Health, and the Food and Drug Administration, is the major
federal employer of chemists. The Environmental Protection Agency, the
Departments of Agriculture, and Defense also employ chemists. Other chemists
work for development, research, and testing services. Employment is mainly
found in large industrial areas, even though chemists are employed in all
parts of the country.
Chemists usually work eight hour shifts in laboratories and offices.
Research chemists spend much time in laboratories, but also work in offices
when they are recording, planning, reporting on, or working on their lab
research. Chemists may also do some of their work in a chemical plant or
outdoors. For example, they could be outdoors testing polluted water. Some
chemists are exposed to health and safety hazards when handling certain
chemicals, but there is little risk, if proper procedures are followed.
Chemists look for and use new knowledge about chemicals. Chemists
also develop processes which reduce pollution and save energy. Many chemists
work in research and development. In basic research, chemists investigate
reactions of substances, the structure, composition, and properties of
matter. In applied research and development, they improve processes and
products or create new ones, using the information learned from basic research.
Chemists also work in quality control and production in chemical manufacturing
plants. They prepare instructions for plant workers which specify temperatures,
mixing times, and ingredients for each stage in the manufacturing. They
test samples of products to ensure they meet government and industry standards.
Chemists often specialize in a subfield. Analytical chemists
determine the nature, composition, and structure of substances by examining
and identifying the elements or compounds that make up a substance. They
also identify the presence and concentration of chemical pollutants in
water, air, and soil. Organic chemists study the chemistry of the carbon
compounds which make up all living things. Many products, such as plastics
and drugs, have been developed by organic chemists. Inorganic chemists
study compounds consisting of elements other than carbon, such as elements
in electronic components. Physical chemists investigate how chemical reactions
work and study the physical characteristics of atoms and molecules.
A survey by the American Chemical Society reports that the average
salary of all their members with a bachelor's degree was $49,400 a year
in 1997; master's degree, $56,200; and Ph. D., $71, 000. Salaries were
highest for those working in private industry; those in teaching and education
earned the least. According to an American Chemical Society survey of recent
college graduates, inexperienced chemistry graduates with a bachelor’s
degree earned an average starting salary of $25,000 in 1996; master’s degree,
$31,100; and Ph. D., $45,000. Out of the bachelor's degree graduates, those
who had completed internships or had other work experience while in school
had the highest starting salaries. Chemists in the federal government earned
an average salary of $60,000 in 1997.
Job growth will be in development, research, and testing service
companies and drug manufacturing. The chemical industry should have continued
demand for goods, such as new and better personal care products and pharmaceuticals.
Chemical firms will continue to devote money to development and research
to meet these demands. Some job openings will result from the need to replace
chemists who leave the labor force or retire. Chemists will also be needed
to work in research and testing firms that focus on environmental testing
and cleanup.
A bachelor's degree in chemistry is usually the minimum requirement
for an entry-level chemist. But for some research jobs, a Ph. D. degree
is needed. Many universities and colleges offer a bachelor's degree program
in chemistry. About 620 of these schools are approved by the American Chemical
Society. Several hundred universities and colleges also offer degree programs
in chemistry. These are about 320 master’s programs, and about 190 doctoral
programs that are approved by the American Chemical Society. In addition
to required courses in physical, organic, inorganic, and analytical chemistry,
undergraduate chemistry majors usually study physics, math, and biology.
Computer courses are essential, because employers prefer job applicants
who are able to operate computerized laboratory equipment and apply computer
skills. Many employers prefer chemists with a Ph. D. or at least a master’s
degree to lead basic and applied research.
