Chemist Starting Salary
Chemists make between $30,000 and $80,000 a year in starting pay, depending on the kind of work and level of experience the job requires. A chemist holding a doctorate with less than 12 months experience may command $30,000 more per year than a person with same experience who has a bachelor's degree.
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Where Do Chemists Start?
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Chemists work in many different sectors of the industry, including the federal government, where entry-level salaries in 2004 were as high as $72,000 per year. Chemists also may work in scientific research and development services, pharmaceuticals, medicine manufacturing; and architectural and engineering-related services, where ground-floor salaries tend to be in the high 30s. Starting salaries, as with most other careers, also depend on geographical location. Chemists in New York, for example, may earn $10,000 to 20,000 a year more than chemists in other cities in the nation.
Some Companies That Hire Entry-Level Chemists
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Chemists may be able to find work through local, regional or national placement agencies. Some companies that hire chemists are Aerotek Scientific, Kelly Scientific Resource, Covance US, RTI International, and Advanced Technologies and Laboratories International.
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What Chemists Do
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Chemists are scientists who study material and chemical and molecular substances and changes and often work in teams. Chemists work in plants that make everything from plastics to cosmetics; they also work with refinery mills and food processing and in water and sewage treatment facilities. The government employs chemists to study agriculture, pollution and medicine. Some chemists become university professors, or they become consultants or sales representatives in areas such as pharmaceutical industries. Many chemists deal with research and development to learn how to develop new products and new ways of handling molecular structures. They may have to conduct years of research and lab testing before a certain product ever sees the light of day. Just about anywhere that you see life going on, a chemist (molecular biologist) had something to do with, including use of the water supplies that sustain our lives.
Education and Training
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Though a bachelor's degree is enough to get a chemist a starting job in sales or as a laboratory assistant, the majority of lead jobs in the field require a master's degree or doctorate. The learning curve for a chemist never ends.
The American Chemical Society
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The American Chemical Society is an independent member organization chartered by Congress to uphold certain standards in the fields of chemistry. Its website maintains information about starting salaries for chemists and engineers.
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