Medical

Chemical Technician

Do you love microscopes and mixing chemicals?

Conduct chemical and physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in qualitative and quantitative analysis of solids, liquids, and gases.

Salary Range

$35,000 – $55,000

per year (10th–90th percentile)

Median Salary

$49,820

per year

Growth Outlook

Average Growth

2024–2034 projected

Work in a variety of industries, including pharmaceuticals, food processing, and manufacturing

Browse Chemical Tech Jobs

Tasks & Responsibilities

Conduct chemical or physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative or quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, or gaseous materials.
Maintain, clean, or sterilize laboratory instruments or equipment.
Monitor product quality to ensure compliance with standards and specifications.
Set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses, using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, or microscopy.
Prepare chemical solutions for products or processes, following standardized formulas, or create experimental formulas.
Compile and interpret results of tests and analyses.
Provide and maintain a safe work environment by participating in safety programs, committees, or teams and by conducting laboratory or plant safety audits.
Provide technical support or assistance to chemists or engineers.
Develop or conduct programs of sampling and analysis to maintain quality standards of raw materials, chemical intermediates, or products.
Train new employees on topics such as the proper operation of laboratory equipment.

Tools of the Trade

Laboratory vacuum pumpsLaboratory balancesFume hoods or cupboardsLaboratory flasksGas burnersVacuum gaugesFractionation apparatusCalorimetersSpectrofluorimeters or fluorimetersLaboratory mixersManometersBarometersTitration equipmentViscosimetersBench refractometers or polarimetersPipette washersPressure indicatorsHandheld thermometerLaboratory clampsProtective glovesVacuum or rotary evaporatorsLaboratory heat exchange condensersHeating or drying equipment or accessoriesLasersLaboratory general purpose tubingInfrared spectrometersSpectrophotometer accessoriesLaboratory funnelsRemote reading thermometersVolumetric pipettesDrying cabinets or ovensLaboratory staining dishes or jarsEyewashers or eye wash stationsChromatography tubingChromatography syringesGlass cruciblesOptical beamsplittersLiquid scintillation countersDecontamination showerRobotic or automated liquid handling systemsFlowmetersLaboratory mechanical convection ovensLaboratory box furnacesLaboratory millsChromatographic detectorsPhotometerInductively coupled plasma ICP spectrometersRespiratorsGeiger countersPeristaltic pumpsCeramic cruciblesManostatsPestle or mortarsFacial shieldsAir or gas tanks or cylindersLaboratory dishesGas masksLaboratory sprayersLaboratory cork borerspH metersGas chromatographsGas detectorsThin layer chromatography tanksCuvettesFlame ionization analyzersVacuum desiccatorsSyringe pumpsPyrometersMass spectrometersProgrammable tube furnacesIon chromatographsGogglesThermal conductivity analyzersPolarimetersIon analyzersHeating mantles or tapesLaboratory crushers or pulverizersLiquid chromatographsMercury vapor lamp HIDBi metallic sensorsLaboratory hotplatesFiltering machineryWater bathsThinlayer chromatographsMagnetic stirrersLaboratory glass tubeAtomic absorption AA spectrometersLaboratory pressesHigh pressure liquid chromatograph chromatographyFreezedryers or lyophilzersHigh pressure sodium lamp HIDVoltage or current metersRefrigerated cooling modulesScientific calculatorLaboratory buretsGravimetersMulti gas monitorsLaboratory blenders or emulsifiersPhotoelectric sensorsNuclear magnetic resonance NMR spectrometersPasteur or transfer pipettesHazardous material protective apparelAir velocity and temperature monitorsTensiometersBinocular light compound microscopesRefrigerated bathsMultimetersElectronic toploading balancesFire extinguishersAmmetersDissolved oxygen metersPolarizersPrismsRheometersComparatorsSafety glassesHot air blowersTriple beam balancesMainframe computersLaboratory centrifugal pumpsRotametersCoulometersBenchtop centrifugesInfrared lampsLaboratory tongsHomogenizersPull spring balancesHydrometersMetering pumpsOrganic carbon analyzersImmersion heatersMonochromatorsThermocouplesSpectrophotometersPycnometersTurbidimetersUltraviolet UV lampsDesktop computersUltracentrifugesPersonal computersRadiation detectors

Knowledge Areas

Chemistry

Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods. 70/100

English Language

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. 63/100

Mathematics

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. 60/100

Computers and Electronics

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming. 53/100

Administrative

Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology. 49/100

Production and Processing

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods. 49/100

Education and Training

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. 42/100

Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. 35/100

Engineering and Technology

Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services. 35/100

Mechanical

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance. 30/100