Job Description of a Quality-Control Chemist

Quality-control chemists ensure that the procedures and materials used to make chemical products like paint meet quality standards.

In chemical manufacturing plants, quality-control chemists ensure that production methods and finished products meet established standards. They may work for companies that produce drugs, cement, cosmetics, paints, lubricants and other chemical products. Some quality-control chemists are also responsible for developing new quality-testing procedures.

Duties

Quality-control chemists oversee the testing of chemical products and raw materials to ensure that they meet quality standards. They also supervise production methods to confirm that government regulations are followed.

Education

Quality-control chemists must have at least a bachelor's degree in chemistry or a related field, but many pursue advanced degrees such as a master's or doctoral degree.

Working Conditions

Quality-control chemists usually divide their time between manufacturing facilities where they supervise production procedures and laboratories where they test products and record results. They usually work standard 40-hour weeks, but overtime may sometimes be required.

Salary

According to Indeed.com, a career information website, the average annual salary for quality-control chemists was $62,000 as of July 2010.

Employment Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment for chemists, including quality-control chemists, will grow 2 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is a slower rate than the average for all occupations.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Chemists and Materials Scientists
• Indeed: Quality Control Chemist Salary