Chemistry

Types of Degrees Chemistry Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many chemistry graduations there were in 2020-2021 for each degree level.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Bachelor’s Degree	14,951
Doctor’s Degree	2,721
Master’s Degree	2,246
Associate Degree	1,178
Basic Certificate	78
Graduate Certificate	38
Undergraduate Certificate	27

What Chemistry Majors Need to Know

O*NET surveyed people in occupations related to chemistry and asked them what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. The responses were rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.

Knowledge Areas for Chemistry Majors

This major prepares you for careers in which these knowledge areas are important:

• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Skills for Chemistry Majors

chemistry majors are found most commonly in careers in which the following skills are important:

• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Abilities for Chemistry Majors

As you progress with your chemistry degree, there are several abilities you should pick up that will help you in whatever related career you choose. These abilities include:

• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

What Can You Do With a Chemistry Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with chemistry:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Chemistry Professors	9.9%	$79,550
Chemists	6.5%	$76,890
Clinical Research Coordinators	9.9%	$123,860
Environmental Restoration Planners	11.1%	$71,130
Environmental Science Professors	10.1%	$79,910
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health	11.1%	$71,130
Forensic Science Technicians	16.9%	$58,230
Industrial Ecologists	11.1%	$71,130
Natural Sciences Managers	9.9%	$123,860
Physics Postsecondary Professors	10.2%	$90,800
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	7.5%	$60,320
Water Resource Specialists	9.9%	$123,860

Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry?

Chemistry runs middle of the road when it comes to popularity, ranking #36 out of all the undergraduate majors we track. In 2021, about 14,951 graduates completed their bachelor’s degree in this field. The major attracts more women than men. About 55% of the recent graduates in this field are female.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of chemistry majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	1,900
Black or African American	1,137
Hispanic or Latino	2,079
White	7,889
International Students	942
Other Races/Ethnicities	1,004

Geographic Diversity

Chemistry appeals to people across the globe. About 6.3% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:

• China
• India
• South Korea
• Saudi Arabia
• Sri Lanka

How Much Do Chemistry Majors Make?

Bachelor’s Degree Starting Salary

Data from the U.S. Department of Education shows that chemistry students who graduated in 2017-2019 with a bachelor’s degree made a median starting salary of $37,104 per year. During this timeframe, most salaries fell between $32,278 (25th percentile) and $40,292 (75th percentile).

One thing to note here is that not all of these people may be working in careers related to chemistry.

Salaries According to BLS

Average salaries range from $64,340 to $92,360 (25th to 75th percentile) for careers related to chemistry. This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.

To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Chemistry

Some careers associated with chemistry require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to chemistry have obtained the following education levels.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)	1.2%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)	0.6%
Some College Courses	3.4%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	2.3%
Bachelor’s Degree	36.3%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.	3.6%
Master’s Degree	23.8%
Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level.	0.8%
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.	0.5%
Doctoral Degree	17.7%
Post-Doctoral Training	9.8%

Online Chemistry Programs

In 2020-2021, 1,388 schools offered a chemistry program of some type. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	0	0
Certificate (1-2 years)	8	1
Certificate (2-4 Years)	0	0
Associate’s Degree	236	11
Bachelor’s Degree	22	2
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
Master’s Degree	350	6
Post-Master’s	5	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	234	0
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	1	0

Is a Degree in Chemistry Worth It?

The median salary for a chemistry grad is $83,850 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 110% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $879,000 after 20 years!

Majors Related to Chemistry

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to chemistry.

Major	Number of Grads
Physics	13,674
Geological & Earth Sciences	7,821
General Physical Sciences	3,823
Astronomy & Astrophysics	1,375
Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology	1,140
Materials Sciences	658
Other Physical Science	538
Physics and Astronomy	38

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020

More about our data sources and methodologies.