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Boston Career Explorer

Life, Physical, and Social Science

Chemists

Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge.

Also called: Air Quality Chemist, Analytical Chemist, Chemical Lab Scientist (Chemical Laboratory Scientist), Chemist, Forensic Chemist, Product Development Chemist

Compare with my current job (Food Scientists and Technologists)
Median pay in Greater Boston
$127,290
$61.20/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
2,960
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+1.0%
220 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Bachelor's degree

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$71,120$86,330$127,290$164,790$212,220

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods.
  • Analyze organic or inorganic compounds to determine chemical or physical properties, composition, structure, relationships, or reactions, using chromatography, spectroscopy, or spectrophotometry techniques.
  • Induce changes in composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy, or chemical catalysts for quantitative or qualitative analysis.
  • Conduct quality control tests.
  • Write technical papers or reports or prepare standards and specifications for processes, facilities, products, or tests.
  • Maintain laboratory instruments to ensure proper working order and troubleshoot malfunctions when needed.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Moderate exposure59 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 58
  • Language-model AIOE 55
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 64

Observed AI use today: Substantial (Anthropic Economic Index)

This job has moderate AI exposure, and observed AI use is already substantial. AI tools can help with analyzing results, searching for formulas, and drafting technical reports. Hands-on lab work, such as running experiments and quality tests, and the judgment needed to trust a result still rely on people.

Likely to change

  • Analyzing lab results and test data
  • Drafting technical papers and reports

Still relies on people

  • Running experiments and handling lab equipment
  • Judging whether results can be trusted

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

29 programs near Boston (plus 25 graduate)

Related occupations

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