Science
What you can do with Chemistry
The science of matter and reactions, behind medicine, clean energy, and new materials.
- Careers
- 14
- Early career
- $50,000
- Mid-career
- $86,000
- Growing fast
- 8 of 14
How these numbers work: A major does not have its own salary. Early and mid-career pay is what people who hold this degree earn at the start of their careers and midway through them. Career pay comes from the 14 careers a Chemistry degree commonly leads to, and counts everyone in those jobs, including people who have been doing them for thirty years. The two answer different questions, which is why they do not match.
68% of people with this degree go on to a graduate degree, so the higher-paying careers below usually mean more school after the bachelor's.
8 of 14 careers this degree leads to are projected to grow faster than average from 2024 to 2034. Of those, Pharmacist has the most openings, about 14,200 a year.
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14 careers this degree leads to
Physician (Family Medicine)
$244,180Serve as the front line of medicine: diagnosing, treating, and coordinating lifelong preventive care for patients of every age.
- Middle half of workers
- $162,420 to $334,270
- Growth
- About average
- Openings a year
- 3,300
Work-life78Remote2- Clinical Diagnosis
- Patient Care
- Critical Thinking
- Communication
Dentist
$170,950Diagnose and treat problems with patients' teeth, gums, and related parts of the mouth, and provide preventive dental care.
- Middle half of workers
- $125,710 to $224,040
- Growth
- About average
- Openings a year
- 3,900
Work-life62Remote5Satisfaction75- Oral Diagnosis
- Restorative Dentistry
- Patient Communication
- Manual Dexterity
Natural Sciences Manager
$167,220Lead research teams and R&D programs, translating between the lab and the organization.
- Middle half of workers
- $119,430 to $221,540
- Growth
- About average
- Openings a year
- 8,500
Work-life59Remote66- Research Program Management
- Scientific Judgment
- Budgeting
- Team Leadership
Pharmacist
$140,910Dispense prescription medications, counsel patients on drug interactions, and collaborate with physicians on optimal therapeutic plans.
- Middle half of workers
- $129,380 to $161,840
- Growth
- Faster than average
- Openings a year
- 14,200
Work-life55Remote10Satisfaction68- Pharmacology
- Drug Interaction Analysis
- Patient Counseling
- Medication Management
Optometrist
$136,570Examine eyes, diagnose vision problems and eye disease, prescribe corrective lenses, and manage ongoing eye health.
- Middle half of workers
- $109,400 to $165,120
- Growth
- Much faster than average
- Openings a year
- 2,400
Work-life72Remote1- Clinical Diagnosis
- Patient Care
- Critical Thinking
- Attention to Detail
Physician Assistant
$135,880Examine patients, diagnose illnesses and injuries, prescribe medications, and develop treatment plans under physician supervision.
- Middle half of workers
- $120,670 to $163,980
- Growth
- Much faster than average
- Openings a year
- 12,000
Work-life42Remote10Satisfaction74- Clinical Assessment
- Patient Care
- Medical Diagnosis
- Pharmacology
Biochemist
$127,410Study the chemistry of living systems, driving discoveries in medicine, biotech, and agriculture.
- Middle half of workers
- $95,000 to $163,460
- Growth
- Faster than average
- Openings a year
- 2,900
Work-life52Remote8- Laboratory Research
- Protein Analysis
- Science
- Data Analysis
Chemical Engineer
$125,040Scale chemistry from the lab bench to industrial production, designing the processes behind fuels, plastics, medicines, and materials.
- Middle half of workers
- $97,820 to $157,190
- Growth
- About average
- Openings a year
- 1,100
Work-life55Remote17- Process Design
- Thermodynamics
- Science
- Mathematics
Biomedical Scientist / Researcher
$103,410Conduct research to advance understanding of living organisms and develop medical treatments.
- Middle half of workers
- $79,840 to $139,380
- Growth
- Much faster than average
- Openings a year
- 9,600
Work-life65Remote35Satisfaction80- Laboratory Research
- Data Analysis
- Scientific Writing
- Cell Biology
Chemist
$91,240Run the analyses and experiments behind new products, quality control, and scientific discovery.
- Middle half of workers
- $69,460 to $125,550
- Growth
- Faster than average
- Openings a year
- 6,300
Work-life70Remote1- Laboratory Technique
- Analytical Chemistry
- Science
- Critical Thinking
Food Scientist
$88,720Apply chemistry and microbiology to make food safer, healthier, and longer lasting.
- Middle half of workers
- $68,810 to $116,650
- Growth
- Much faster than average
- Openings a year
- 1,200
Work-life53Remote1- Food Chemistry
- Product Development
- Quality Assurance
- Science
Environmental Scientist
$82,220Conduct research and advise on protecting the environment and human health.
- Middle half of workers
- $64,490 to $107,970
- Growth
- About average
- Openings a year
- 8,500
Work-life68Remote42Satisfaction75- Environmental Assessment
- Data Analysis
- GIS
- Fieldwork
Forensic Science Technician
$72,060Collect and analyze physical evidence from crime scenes and labs to support criminal investigations.
- Middle half of workers
- $57,830 to $94,520
- Growth
- Much faster than average
- Openings a year
- 2,900
Work-life54Remote8- Evidence Collection
- Lab Analysis
- Chain of Custody
- Attention to Detail
Medical Laboratory Scientist
$62,930Perform complex tests on patient samples to detect, diagnose, and monitor diseases.
- Middle half of workers
- $47,650 to $81,450
- Growth
- Slower than average
- Openings a year
- 22,600
Work-life65Remote8Satisfaction68- Laboratory Techniques
- Quality Control
- Hematology
- Microbiology
Related majors
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Where these pay figures come from
Early and mid-career pay is the median annual wage of full-time workers who hold a bachelor's degree in that major, ages 22 to 27 and ages 35 to 45, from 2024 data. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (IPUMS). Published as Outcomes by Major by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.