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A chemical scientist, sometimes called a chemist, studies substances and how they behave under certain conditions to drive improved scientific understanding and applications. Read on to learn more about how to build a career in chemical science, what your job might involve, and what to study or do.
As a chemical scientist, you’ll work towards filling gaps in or reinforcing scientific knowledge through experiments and other research activity. You could work across various sectors including pharmaceutical, agricultural, political science and security industries. Chemical scientists can find a range of different roles in private companies, universities, charities, or public institutions.
Your responsibilities might include managing regular laboratory experiments, analysing data and writing up reports, contributing to grant funding applications, advising companies and governments, or presenting your findings to your employer or the wider scientific community. You’ll enjoy answering questions and solving problems to drive progress in this field.
Daily tasks will vary but could involve:
The average salary for a chemical scientist in the UK is £39,000. Graduates start at around £23,500.
Working for international companies could see you travelling abroad for certain projects, while academic or research will usually involve travelling to conferences in the UK or overseas.
You’ll be able to manage some tasks, like administration, data analysis or automated laboratory processes, from home. However, you’ll often need to be on-site to carry out your work in this field.
Use our Career Matcher to see which industries and roles align best with your interests.
