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Chemical technician: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$60,390median pay per year, or $29.03 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $41,740lowest 10% earn less
  2. $48,53025th percentile
  3. $60,390median
  4. $75,90075th percentile
  5. $92,040top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Chemical technicians earned a median of $60,390 a year in May 2025[1]. The typical entry point is an associate's degree[2], and jobs are projected to grow 4.9% from 2025 to 2035[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+4.9%[3]
Openings per year
7,600[6]
Typical entry education
Associate's degree[2]

How much do chemical technicians make?

The median pay for chemical technicians was $60,390 a year, or $29.03 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $63,900 a year, or $30.72 an hour[7].

The median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980[5]. So the chemical technician median sits above that overall figure[1][5].

Here is how annual pay spread out[4]:

Point Annual wage Fact
10th percentile[4] $41,740
25th percentile[4] $48,530
Median[1] $60,390
75th percentile[4] $75,900
90th percentile[4] $92,040

BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $41,740[4]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $92,040[4]. By the hour, the 10th percentile was $20.07 and the 90th was $44.25[9].

These wages cover full-time and part-time workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and do not include nonproduction bonuses or the cost of benefits[10].

Pay by state and city

Louisiana had the highest median annual wage for chemical technicians at $85,850, followed by Alaska at $79,380 and Delaware at $78,620[11]. Arkansas had the lowest median at $45,230, then New Hampshire at $48,940[11]. Some states have only about 100 jobs or fewer, so their figures rest on small numbers[11].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Baton Rouge, LA had the highest median at $92,120[12]. Lake Charles, LA followed at $88,780, then Evansville, IN at $85,230[12].

The most jobs were in California (6,800), Texas (6,090) and Ohio (3,120)[13]. About 57,540 people worked as chemical technicians in the US in May 2025[14].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Louisiana[11]$85,850960
Alaska$79,380100
Delaware$78,620540
South Carolina$75,0202,080
Missouri$68,550720
Massachusetts$67,5701,780
Arizona$65,860390
Vermont$65,560150
Hawaii$63,91040
Colorado$63,7701,180
Nebraska$62,640280
Texas$62,5806,090
Minnesota$62,400870
Washington$62,100730
Illinois$61,8901,320
Rhode Island$61,680190
Kansas$61,560370
Nevada$61,5201,050
New York$60,9002,200
Kentucky$60,830700
Oklahoma$60,020610
Ohio$59,7503,120
California$59,5106,800
Wisconsin$59,4401,090
Pennsylvania$59,4202,710
Indiana$59,2901,990
North Carolina$59,0302,660
West Virginia$58,750230
New Jersey$58,5802,730
Michigan$58,1802,220
Alabama$58,1501,190
Georgia$58,120850
Iowa$58,090440
Oregon$57,960340
North Dakota$57,760150
Connecticut$57,310510
District of Columbia$56,53030
Wyoming$56,320230
New Mexico$55,120250
Tennessee$54,8401,470
Mississippi$54,580480
Idaho$54,560170
Florida$54,0501,840
Montana$52,890240
Virginia$51,8501,370
Maine$49,280100
Maryland$49,280590
South Dakota$49,03090
Utah$49,030580
New Hampshire$48,940220
Arkansas$45,230500

How to become a chemical technician

The facts describe this path:

College programs in this field usually include math, physics and biology as well as chemistry[17]. Courses with a lab part give hands-on practice with experiments and instruments[18]. Internships and cooperative-education programs help students gain experience while in school[18].

Technicians with a bachelor's degree can move up to jobs as chemical engineers or chemists[19]. The facts list no license or exam for this job.

What chemical technicians do

Chemical technicians run chemical and physical tests in the lab to help scientists analyze solids, liquids and gases[20]. The work supports research, quality control and environmental standards[20]. O*NET sample titles include laboratory technician, chemical analyst and quality control laboratory technician[21]. Common tasks include[22]:

OOH lists analytical skills, communication skills, attention to detail and teamwork as useful qualities[23][24][25][26].

Where they work

Chemical technicians often work in laboratories or manufacturing facilities[27]. Chemical manufacturing was the largest employer group in 2025, at 30% of jobs[28]. Handling some chemicals and manufacturing equipment can bring health or safety hazards, but OOH says the risk is little when proper procedures are followed[29].

OOH says most technicians work full time[30]. Sometimes they work extra hours to meet deadlines or fix problems with manufacturing processes, and some keep irregular schedules to monitor experiments or operations[30]. In 2025, 2.4% were self-employed[31].

Job outlook

BLS projects chemical technician employment to grow 4.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 60,000 to 63,000 jobs[3]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same years[32]. These counts include self-employed workers, so they differ from the OEWS job count[3].

About 7,600 openings a year are projected on average[6]. Openings include jobs that open when people retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 2.1% of workers leave the labor force and 9.9% move to a different occupation[33].

Is it a good fit?

Pay is above the all-occupations median, and jobs are projected to grow a little faster than average[1][5][3][32]. The typical entry point is an associate's degree, which points to about two years of study before the job, followed by on-the-job training[2][34][16]. The work centers on lab testing, precise records and teamwork[22][25][26]. It may suit someone who likes careful, methodical science work, though some positions require a bachelor's degree[34].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a chemical technician make an hour?
The median was $29.03 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $30.72[1][7].
What degree do you need to be a chemical technician?
An associate's degree is the typical entry level[2]. Some positions require a bachelor's degree, and others accept a high school diploma[34].
How long does it take to become a chemical technician?
The typical path is an associate's degree or about 2 years of postsecondary education[15], followed by on-the-job training whose length varies[16].
Are chemical technician jobs in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 4.9% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations[3][32]. About 7,600 openings a year are projected[6].
What is the highest paying state for chemical technicians?
Louisiana had the highest median annual wage at $85,850, followed by Alaska at $79,380[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Chemical Technicians in the US was $60,390 per year and $29.03 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Chemical Technicians: education needed for entry: Associate's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Chemical Technicians is projected to grow 4.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 60,000 to 63,000 jobs (a change of +3,000). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Chemical Technicians: 10th percentile $41,740, 25th percentile $48,530, 75th percentile $75,900, 90th percentile $92,040. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 7,600 openings for Chemical Technicians are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Chemical Technicians was $63,900 per year and $30.72 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Chemical Technicians: 10th percentile $20.07, 25th percentile $23.33, 75th percentile $36.49, 90th percentile $44.25. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Chemical Technicians in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Chemical Technicians (areas with at least 100 jobs): Baton Rouge, LA $92,120; Lake Charles, LA $88,780; Evansville, IN $85,230; New Orleans-Metairie, LA $80,390; Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $79,290; St. Louis, MO-IL $73,290; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $71,470; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $67,850. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Chemical Technicians jobs: California 6,800; Texas 6,090; Ohio 3,120; New Jersey 2,730; Pennsylvania 2,710. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 57,540 people were employed as Chemical Technicians in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. O*NET description of Chemical Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  21. O*NET 19-4031.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Analytical Laboratory Technician (Analytical Lab Technician), Chemical Analyst, Chemical Technician, Laboratory Analyst (Lab Analyst), Laboratory Technician (Lab Tech), Laboratory Tester (Lab Tester), Organic Preparation Analyst (Organic Prep Analyst), Quality Control Laboratory Technician (QC Lab Tech). O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET task list for Chemical Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of chemical technicians in 2025: Chemical manufacturing 30%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Employment Projections: 2.4% of Chemical Technicians were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  32. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Chemical Technicians: 2.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 9.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.