Career Explorer Science
Grows with AI
Chemical technicians
Conduct chemical and physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative and quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, and gaseous materials for research and development of new products or processes, quality control, maintenance of environmental standards, and other work involving experimental, theoretical, or practical application of chemistry and related sciences.
In the middle of the pack: more resilient than 51% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is high (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it high), and US jobs are projected to change by +4.9% by 2035, faster than average. The work leans on ethical judgement and physical dexterity.
AI can help with many of the tasks, and demand is still growing. Being fluent with AI is the edge here.
- Median pay (2025)
- $60,390
- Job growth to 2035
- +4.9%
- Openings a year
- 7,600
- People doing it (2025)
- 60,000
- Usual route in
- Associate's degree, then moderate on-the-job training
Where people already use AI for this work
- Analyze biological or chemical substances or related data
- Maintain electronic, computer, or other technical equipment
- Set up equipment
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Clean workpieces, finished products, or other objects
- Analyze data to improve operations
- Evaluate production inputs or outputs
What the work looks like
- Conduct chemical or physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative or quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, or gaseous materials.
- Maintain, clean, or sterilize laboratory instruments or equipment.
- Monitor product quality to ensure compliance with standards and specifications.
- Set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses, using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, or microscopy.
- Prepare chemical solutions for products or processes, following standardized formulas, or create experimental formulas.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Biological techniciansGrows with AI, Index 65, +7.4%
- Nuclear techniciansHuman edge, steady, Index 55, +1.1%
- Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and techniciansGrows with AI, Index 77, +11.9%
- Agricultural techniciansGrows with AI, Index 66, +5.4%
Also known as: Chemical Technician, Laboratory Analyst (Lab Analyst), Laboratory Technician (Lab Tech), Quality Control Technician (QC Tech), Analytical Laboratory Technician (Analytical Lab Technician), Chemical Analyst, Laboratory Tester (Lab Tester), Organic Preparation Analyst (Organic Prep Analyst).
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.