The State of Jobs in Analytical Chemistry: A Deep-Dive into the Latest Trends in Salaries, Jobs, and Career Growth in Chromatography

The editors of LCGC International explore how chemists can set themselves apart in an ever-competitive job market, highlighting the latest data in salary and employment statistics.

The market for analytical chemists remains strong despite the current ongoing challenges in the broader labor market. Jobs in chemistry and material scientists are projected to see 6% growth through 2032, higher than average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) (1). There will be approximately 7200 job openings for chemists and materials scientists per year during this period of time, according to BLS (1). As older workers look toward retirement, younger workers will have new opportunities as they enter the workforce (1).

However, despite all these positive trends, analytical chemists, and workers in general, are dealing with a unique set of challenges in the current marketplace, and it is influencing their salaries, opportunities for advancement, and overall job satisfaction. Anecdotal evidence suggests that some analytical laboratories are still struggling to retain workers. Fewer technicians are specializing in separation science and tools are becoming more automated, meaning technicians are often less specialized.

This turnover could also be related to outside causes, such as inflation. To keep up with the rising cost of living, many workers are seeking to grow their income by finding another job. Nearly half (45%) of workers planning to switch jobs cited needing a higher income to make ends meet (2).

In this article, the editors of LCGC International dive deep into the latest employment trends and salary data for analytical chemists, providing tips on how employees can find new roles and opportunities at any stage in their career.

Salary Trends and Data

Salaries for analytical chemists fluctuate based upon where the job is located, but across all employment sectors, pay for analytical chemists are faring well. In 2022, the American Chemical Society (ACS) surveyed 125,048 scientists affiliated with ACS to better understand pay in the industry (3). The data revealed that the median salary back in 2021 was, on average, $105,000, representing an approximately 7% increase from 2021 (3).

However, although salaries have risen, pay increases have not kept up with the rate of inflation. The ACS 2022 survey showed that salaries dipped in relation to the rate of inflation (3). The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) also reported a similar trend in the United Kingdom. Just 18% of their survey respondents said employers offered them a salary increase that matched or surpassed the rate of inflation, whereas 62% of respondents reported that they received a below-inflationary pay increase (4).

Currently, one of the big trends that analytical chemists are observing is how salaries compare between workers who received degrees in analytical chemistry and those who simply work in the analytical chemistry field. The median salary for those working in analytical chemistry is $89,000 with a bachelor’s degree, $120,000 with a master’s degree, and $131,000 with a PhD. However, the median salary for those receiving degrees in analytical chemistry is $92,000 with a bachelor’s degree, $108,000 with a master’s degree, and $119,000 with a PhD (Figure 1). This data suggests that a worker specializing in analytical chemistry in school does not necessarily come out ahead of the worker who landed in the analytical chemistry field without the specialization. The ACS survey also showed that across the board, workers with bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctorates saw similar gains in overall salary (3).

FIGURE 1: The American Chemical Society (ACS) 2023 data for analytical chemists based on degree. Data is presented in United States dollars (USD).

A gender pay gap still exists in analytical chemistry. Men continue to make more than women on average, said LaTrease Garrison, chief operating officer (COO) of the ACS. However, according to Garrison, analytical chemist salaries for men and women are moving closer to equilibrium.

“Those that identify as male continue to make more than others, but the gap is decreasing,” Garrison said. Data collected by Zippia also enforces this point; examining data from 2022, it is estimated that women make 98% of what men make in analytical chemistry, which shows that compared to other industries, analytical chemistry may be closer to pay equity (4).

Another factor that was examined in the survey is worker’s sense of well-being and whether there was a strong correlation between workers feeling good about their well-being compared to their income. The RSC survey examined whether respondents were happy with their day-to-day life. About half of respondents (49%) said they were tired, while 33% felt stressed; meanwhile, 41% said they feel positive, and 30% were reported as feeling happy (5).

Zoe Ayers, president of the Royal Society of Chemists (RSC) analytical science community council, explained that the data showed that worker happiness is correlated to their financial situation.

“Data from the RSC’s Pay and Reward 2023 report makes it clear that there is an inherent link between well-being and peoples’ financial situation,” Ayres told Chemistry World (5). “We also know that when scientists find themselves in a supportive environment this enables better science. With the ongoing cost-of-living crisis in the United Kingdom, ensuring scientists are being paid a fair, living wage can really help alleviate stress and anxiety over money worries, and improve well-being.”

Job Market Trends

Analytical chemists often seek out roles in academia, industry, and government. In 2023, among the respondents to the ACS survey who selected analytical chemistry as their line of work, the majority (61%) were in academia. A further 25% were in industry, 12% were in government or military organizations, and 2% were either self-employed or in another field (Figure 2).

FIGURE 2: The American Chemical Society (ACS) 2023 data showing what fields analytical chemists are working in.

Of all ACS survey respondents in 2023, 10% cited obtaining a degree in analytical chemistry, and 53% of those people describe their current job as relating to analytical chemistry. For those in analytical chemistry industry careers, 37% described their job function as analytical services, and 25% described their job function as R&D applied research.

Although analytical chemists work across the country, several states, especially those with a greater population, stand out regarding having the most analytical chemists live and work in their state. Compiling data from 2021 to 2023, the ACS survey data showed that California, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas had the greatest number of individuals with degrees in analytical chemistry. The states with the greatest number of respondents whose current job was described as analytical chemistry from 2021–2023 are California, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Ohio.

Finding Jobs and Demonstrating Key Skills

Despite the current economic challenges, the job market for analytical chemists remains strong. However, there are numerous challenges that analytical chemists must navigate.

One is automation and its impact on jobs. Because of automation, it is becoming harder for workers to show their competency in conducting routine analysis (5). Instead, the ability to troubleshoot and having the background knowledge in using sophisticated instrumentation has gained a greater importance (6).

Because instruments are increasingly becoming more sophisticated as the technology develops, this trend is opening new opportunities for analytical chemists. For example, because of regulatory requirements that laboratories must comply with, quality assurance specialists are in high demand, along with quality control experts (6).

“For the past three years, there has been a slight increase in the number of individuals whose work specialty is analytical chemistry and people in the workforce with a bachelor’s degree is growing,” Garrison said.

The data from the ACS survey shows that 73% of those working in analytical chemistry had a PhD, compared to 64% of overall survey respondents.

To find a job, Garrison reported that individuals who obtained their degree in analytical chemistry and recently joined the workforce (n = 42) stated the most effective job search methods are websites, such as LinkedIn and Indeed (43%) and informal channels through knowing a colleague or friend (17%). For individuals whose work specialty is analytical chemistry (n = 61), they reported similar responses, with 56% selecting websites, 21% informal channels, and 7% faculty advisors (Figure 3).

FIGURE 3: The American Chemical Society (ACS) 2023 data showing the most popular job search methods for analytical chemists.

For 2023 graduates who work in analytical chemistry, they indicated that participating in academic research (29%), summer undergrad research (21%), ACS student affiliates (12%), and internship/co-op experience (11%) during their academic tenure helped them join the workforce working in their field.

References

(1) U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Chemists and Materials Scientists. Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections 2024. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/chemists-and-materials-scientists.htm (accessed 2024-07-11).

(2) Smith, M. Nearly 50% of People Are Considering Leaving Their Jobs in 2024—More Than During the ‘Great Resignation.’ CNBC 2024. https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/08/nearly-50percent-of-people-are-considering-leaving-their-jobs-in-2024.html (accessed 2024-07-09).

(3) Widener, A. What US Chemists Made in 2022, According to the ACS Salary Survey. American Chemical Society 2022. https://cen.acs.org/careers/salaries/US-chemists-made-2022-according/100/i37 (accessed 2024-07-09).

(4) Zippia. Analytical Chemist Demographics and Statistics in the US. Zippia 2024. https://www.zippia.com/analytical-chemist-jobs/demographics/ (accessed 2024-07-11).

(5) Pewsey, E. Results of the RSC’s 2023 Pay and Reward Survey. Royal Society of Chemistry 2023. https://www.chemistryworld.com/careers/results-of-the-rscs-2023-pay-and-reward-survey/4018604.article (accessed 2024-07-09).

(6) American Chemical Society. Analytical Chemistry. American Chemical Society 2024. https://www.acs.org/careers/chemical-sciences/areas/analytical-chemistry.html (accessed 2024-07-09).