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Chemical Physics

Types of Degrees Chemical Physics Majors Are Earning

Those studying Chemical Physics may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Bachelor’s Degree	28
Master’s Degree	2
Doctor’s Degree	11

What Chemical Physics Majors Need to Know

Programs in Chemical Physics build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Chemical Physics graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing Chemical Physics emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• English Language — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Chemistry — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills built by a Chemical Physics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to Chemical Physics careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Chemical Physics graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Working with Computers	4.4 / 7
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.1 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.1 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.1 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.1 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	4.1 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.0 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.0 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Chemical Physics professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
The MathWorks MATLAB	Analytical or scientific software	—
R	Object or component oriented development software	✓
Microsoft Access	Data base user interface and query software	—
Sakai CLE	Computer based training software	—
Desire2Learn LMS software	Computer based training software	—
DOC Cop	Information retrieval or search software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Chemical Physics graduates include:

• Lecturer
• Assistant Professor
• Instructor
• University Faculty Member
• Professor
• College Professor
• College Faculty Member
• Adjunct Instructor
• Associate Professor
• Clinical Project Manager
• Clinical Trials Manager
• Research Coordinator
• Clinical Manager
• Clinical Coordinator
• Clinical Program Coordinator

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Chemical Physics graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	28.9%
Doctoral degree	22.1%
Master’s degree	20.5%
Post-doctoral training	15.1%
Postsecondary certificate	3.7%
Some college courses	3.0%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	2.6%
High school diploma or equivalent	2.2%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	1.8%
Post-master’s certificate	0.1%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Chemical Physics?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 78% of Chemical Physics degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	9	22.0%
Men	32	78.0%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Chemical Physics graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	14	34.1%
Asian	8	19.5%
Hispanic or Latino	1	2.4%
Black or African American	1	2.4%
Two or More Races	2	4.9%
International Students	15	36.6%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Chemical Physics Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Chemical Physics graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$46,286
4 years	$61,499
5 years	$72,069

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $72,069 — roughly 56% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Chemical Physics Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Chemical Physics graduates earn a median of $61,499 four years after completion — roughly 62% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Chemistry	40.05
Analytical Chemistry	40.0502
Cheminformatics/Chemistry Informatics	40.0512
Chemistry, General	40.0501
Chemistry, Other	40.0599
Environmental Chemistry	40.0509
Forensic Chemistry	40.0510
Inorganic Chemistry	40.0503
Organic Chemistry	40.0504
Physical Chemistry	40.0506
Polymer Chemistry	40.0507
Theoretical Chemistry	40.0511

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.