Chemistry 

Career and Major Information
Related Career Titles
Web Sites
Salary Information 

The Associate of Science Degree in Chemistry at Walters State Community College is intended to fulfill the freshman and sophomore requirements of a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry.  The curriculum in the WSCC catalog is not designed for transfer to any specific school.  Students will need to talk with a faculty advisor about a particular college or university’s courses and transfer.  The link for the Natural Science Division at Walters State is: http://www.ws.edu/science/default.asp.

 

 

Career and Major Information:

 

Chemists study the chemical compositions of organic and synthetic materials.  By manipulating and creating substances, they develop new and improved products and processes that impact society and the environment.  There are several areas of specialization.

 

Analytical chemists determine the nature, structure and composition of substances.

 

Organic chemists study the carbon compounds that make up living things.

 

Physical and theoretical chemists study the physical characteristics of atoms and molecules, the theoretical properties of matter, and chemical reactions.

 

Macromolecular chemists study the behavior of atoms and molecules.

 

Medicinal chemists study compounds used to treat human illnesses.

 

Materials chemists improve existing products and develop new ones.

 

Most research chemists have a Ph.D. degree; the bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for entry-level work in the field.  Over half of all chemists are employed in a manufacturing environment.  Within the chemical industry, job opportunities are expected to be most plentiful in pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms.

 

Related Career Titles:

 

College Professor

Crime Lab Analyst

Industrial Hygienist

Environmental Health Specialist

Pharmaceutical Sales Representative

Physician

Toxicologist

EPA Inspector

Occupational Health Specialist

Product Development Manager

 

Web Sites:

 

The American Society of Forensic Sciences www.aafs.org

ChemJobs.net www.chemjobs.net 

Biotechnology jobs and information www.bioview.com 

 

Royal Society of Chemistry: advice on choosing a career and job options for chemists

http://www.rsc.org/lap/educatio/careers.htm

 

Chemist (Occupational Outlook Handbook) http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos049.htm

 

ChemPointers http://www.chem.ucla.edu/chempointers.html

 

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/career/Majors/chemistry.htm

 

Salary Information:

Median annual earnings of chemists in 2002 were $52,890. The middle 50 percent earned between $39,410 and $71,710. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $30,980, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $92,170. Median annual earnings of materials scientists in 2002 were $64,590. The middle 50 percent earned between $46,280 and $86,240. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $33,480, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $107,400. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of chemists in 2002 were:

The American Chemical Society reports that the median salary of all of its members with a bachelor’s degree was $32,800 a year in 2002; for those with a master’s degree, it was $50,000; and for those with a Ph.D., it was $68,000. Median salaries were highest for those working in private industry; those in academia earned the least. According to an ACS survey of recent graduates, inexperienced chemistry graduates with a bachelor’s degree earned a median starting salary of $31,000 in 2002; those with a master’s degree earned a median salary of $45,000; and those with a Ph.D. made median earnings of $67,500. Among bachelor’s degree graduates, those who had completed internships or had other work experience while in school commanded the highest starting salaries.

Salary figures quoted are based on national figures. Local or regional salaries may be lower.

 

Citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05 Edition, Chemists and Materials Scientists, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos049.htm