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Chemical Technology

Types of Degrees Chemical Technology Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Chemical Technology may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	734
Associate’s Degree	1,095
Master’s Degree	1,014

What Chemical Technology Majors Need to Know

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

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Chemical Technology emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Chemistry — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Production and Processing — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.
• Mechanical — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.

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

Skills

The skill set developed in a Chemical Technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Operations Monitoring — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Operation and Control — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Monitoring — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Chemical Technology careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Near Vision — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.

Common Job Activities

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

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings	4.5 / 7
Getting Information	4.4 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.1 / 7
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials	4.1 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.1 / 7
Controlling Machines and Processes	4.1 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.0 / 7
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards	3.9 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	3.9 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	3.8 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Chemical Technology professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
SAP software	Enterprise resource planning ERP software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
IBM Notes	Electronic mail software	—
Operational databases	Data base user interface and query software	—
Coordinated incident management system CIMS software	Network security or virtual private network VPN management software	—
Alarm management system software	Industrial control software	—
Distributed control system DCS	Industrial control software	—
Interlock shutdown systems	Industrial control software	—

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

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Chemical Technology graduates include:

• Process Operator
• Ammonia Still Operator
• Chemical Operator
• Chemical Process Operator
• Chemical Plant Operator
• MVA Reactor Operator (Monovinylacetylene Reactor Operator)
• Lye Treater
• Chlorinator Operator
• Generator Operator
• Chemical Equipment Controller
• Zinc Chloride Operator
• Chlorine Operator
• Chlorinator
• Boiler Plant Worker
• Caustic Preparer

Education Typically Required

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

Education Level	Share of Workers
High school diploma or equivalent	49.5%
Bachelor’s degree	20.2%
Some college courses	15.1%
Postsecondary certificate	7.1%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	7.0%
Less than a high school diploma	0.9%
Master’s degree	0.1%
Doctoral degree	0.1%

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

Who Is Earning a Degree in Chemical Technology?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 67.1% of Chemical Technology degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	934	32.9%
Men	1,909	67.1%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

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

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	1,191	41.9%
Asian	87	3.1%
Hispanic or Latino	1,066	37.5%
Black or African American	326	11.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native	10	0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	7	0.2%
Two or More Races	62	2.2%
Race Unknown	51	1.8%
International Students	43	1.5%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Chemical Technology Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Chemical Technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$54,327
4 years	$82,599
5 years	$92,712

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $92,712 — roughly 71% above the 1-year mark.

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

Is a Degree in Chemical Technology Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Chemical Technology graduates earn a median of $82,599 four years after completion — roughly 117% 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
Physical Science Technologies/Technicians	41.03
Chemical Process Technology	41.0303
Physical Science Technologies/Technicians, Other	41.0399

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.