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EnergyTop JobColorado Talent Pipeline Report-aligned occupation with strong annual openings, growth, and wage signals.Green JobOccupation aligned to O*NET green economy classifications.

Chemist

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

Annual openings

166

Median wage

$101,980

Typical education

Bachelor's degree

Growth 2026–2032

+8%

Median wage source: Colorado BLS OEWS (2025).

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Career requirements

What does this career require?

Explore education, required qualifications, voluntary credentials and employer preferences for this role. Check the details to see which apply.

Typical education

Bachelor's degree

Credential requirement

Credential requirements not reported

Work experience

This can be an entry-level role so no experience is required.

Salary/Demand information crosses multiple industries.

Is this work a fit?

What the work actually feels like

How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.

Automation exposure

Low exposure

Tasks here lean on judgement and people skills that are hard to automate.

A typical day

  1. Develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods.
  2. Prepare test solutions, compounds, or reagents for laboratory personnel to conduct tests.
  3. Compile and analyze test information to determine process or equipment operating efficiency or to diagnose malfunctions.
  4. Confer with scientists or engineers to conduct analyses of research projects, interpret test results, or develop nonstandard tests.
  5. Evaluate laboratory safety procedures to ensure compliance with standards or to make improvements as needed.
  6. Analyze organic or inorganic compounds to determine chemical or physical properties, composition, structure, relationships, or reactions, using chromatography, spectroscopy, or spectrophotometry techniques.
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