Grows with AI

Chemists

Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge.

AI Resistance Index 34 of 99

Changing faster than most: more resilient than 34% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is high (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it very high), and US jobs are projected to change by +6.4% by 2035, faster than average. The work leans on creative vision and ethical judgement.

AI can help with many of the tasks, and demand is still growing. Being fluent with AI is the edge here.

Median pay (2025): $91,240
Job growth to 2035: +6.4%
Openings a year: 5,900
People doing it (2025): 84,900
Usual route in: Bachelor's degree

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Where people already use AI for this work

Develop operational or technical procedures or standards
Present research or technical information
Analyze biological or chemical substances or related data

From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).

Work AI rarely helps with

Test characteristics of materials or products
Prepare specimens or materials for testing
Monitor operations to ensure adequate performance

What the work looks like

Develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods.
Analyze organic or inorganic compounds to determine chemical or physical properties, composition, structure, relationships, or reactions, using chromatography, spectroscopy, or spectrophotometry techniques.
Induce changes in composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy, or chemical catalysts for quantitative or qualitative analysis.
Conduct quality control tests.
Write technical papers or reports or prepare standards and specifications for processes, facilities, products, or tests.

From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.

What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects

More of these jobs, as chemists are employed to investigate findings in nanotechnology for medical purposes.

Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook

Industrial engineering technologists and techniciansChanging shape, Index 47, +3.1%
MicrobiologistsGrows with AI, Index 55, +6.2%
Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographersGrows with AI, Index 38, +5.1%
Agricultural techniciansGrows with AI, Index 66, +5.4%

Also known as: Analytical Chemist, Chemist, Research Chemist, Scientist, Air Quality Chemist, Chemical Lab Scientist (Chemical Laboratory Scientist), Forensic Chemist, Product Development Chemist.

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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.