Chemical technicians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $41,740 | $20.07 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $60,390 | $29.03 |
| Mean (average) | $63,900 | $30.72 |
| 90th percentile | $92,040 | $44.25 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Chemical technicians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $58,150 | $37,990 | $84,930 | 1,190 | 1.53 |
| Alaska | $79,380 | $48,800 | $114,430 | 100 | 0.82 |
| Arizona | $65,860 | $46,140 | $93,040 | 390 | 0.32 |
| Arkansas | $45,230 | $35,190 | $83,040 | 500 | 1.04 |
| California | $59,510 | $44,070 | $88,900 | 6,800 | 1.01 |
| Colorado | $63,770 | $46,850 | $94,970 | 1,180 | 1.11 |
| Connecticut | $57,310 | $41,040 | $81,630 | 510 | 0.81 |
| Delaware | $78,620 | $44,520 | $94,660 | 540 | 3.02 |
| District of Columbia | $56,530 | $38,670 | $69,820 | 30 | 0.12 |
| Florida | $54,050 | $39,200 | $75,560 | 1,840 | 0.5 |
| Georgia | $58,120 | $42,560 | $94,070 | 850 | 0.47 |
| Hawaii | $63,910 | $45,760 | $118,610 | 40 | 0.18 |
| Idaho | $54,560 | $36,040 | $77,080 | 170 | 0.52 |
| Illinois | $61,890 | $40,490 | $95,520 | 1,320 | 0.58 |
| Indiana | $59,290 | $37,650 | $94,300 | 1,990 | 1.68 |
| Iowa | $58,090 | $44,750 | $74,070 | 440 | 0.77 |
| Kansas | $61,560 | $43,170 | $80,840 | 370 | 0.7 |
| Kentucky | $60,830 | $40,940 | $97,810 | 700 | 0.94 |
| Louisiana | $85,850 | $47,690 | $111,950 | 960 | 1.34 |
| Maine | $49,280 | $45,010 | $68,850 | 100 | 0.43 |
| Maryland | $49,280 | $33,550 | $73,090 | 590 | 0.58 |
| Massachusetts | $67,570 | $48,730 | $92,720 | 1,780 | 1.32 |
| Michigan | $58,180 | $44,520 | $85,520 | 2,220 | 1.36 |
| Minnesota | $62,400 | $48,030 | $92,550 | 870 | 0.8 |
| Mississippi | $54,580 | $36,150 | $81,690 | 480 | 1.13 |
| Missouri | $68,550 | $43,960 | $101,140 | 720 | 0.66 |
| Montana | $52,890 | $41,510 | $102,620 | 240 | 1.29 |
| Nebraska | $62,640 | $39,420 | $86,200 | 280 | 0.74 |
| Nevada | $61,520 | $44,480 | $86,720 | 1,050 | 1.82 |
| New Hampshire | $48,940 | $32,960 | $65,020 | 220 | 0.88 |
| New Jersey | $58,580 | $46,380 | $81,390 | 2,730 | 1.72 |
| New Mexico | $55,120 | $45,840 | $97,680 | 250 | 0.76 |
| New York | $60,900 | $41,600 | $83,190 | 2,200 | 0.61 |
| North Carolina | $59,030 | $45,280 | $83,110 | 2,660 | 1.46 |
| North Dakota | $57,760 | $46,840 | $71,260 | 150 | 0.93 |
| Ohio | $59,750 | $42,000 | $86,390 | 3,120 | 1.52 |
| Oklahoma | $60,020 | $35,410 | $97,380 | 610 | 0.96 |
| Oregon | $57,960 | $43,840 | $73,060 | 340 | 0.46 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,420 | $41,090 | $85,890 | 2,710 | 1.21 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,510 | $23,460 | $64,130 | 990 | 2.84 |
| Rhode Island | $61,680 | $38,060 | $102,540 | 190 | 1.02 |
| South Carolina | $75,020 | $48,860 | $81,820 | 2,080 | 2.43 |
| South Dakota | $49,030 | $41,530 | $60,430 | 90 | 0.54 |
| Tennessee | $54,840 | $41,290 | $77,990 | 1,470 | 1.21 |
| Texas | $62,580 | $43,970 | $105,650 | 6,090 | 1.17 |
| Utah | $49,030 | $38,550 | $86,590 | 580 | 0.9 |
| Vermont | $65,560 | $49,530 | $89,040 | 150 | 1.37 |
| Virginia | $51,850 | $34,390 | $80,680 | 1,370 | 0.9 |
| Washington | $62,100 | $46,390 | $87,610 | 730 | 0.55 |
| West Virginia | $58,750 | $40,570 | $81,810 | 230 | 0.89 |
| Wisconsin | $59,440 | $41,320 | $81,830 | 1,090 | 1 |
| Wyoming | $56,320 | $39,180 | $106,290 | 230 | 2.21 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for chemical technicians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 7,600. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 2.4%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for chemical technicians
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Chemistry, General CIP 40.0501
- Analytical Chemistry CIP 40.0502
- Inorganic Chemistry CIP 40.0503
- Organic Chemistry CIP 40.0504
- Environmental Chemistry CIP 40.0509
- Chemical Technology/Technician CIP 41.0301
- Chemical Process Technology CIP 41.0303
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- C++ (hot technology)
- Linux (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Oracle Database (hot technology)
- Oracle Java (hot technology)
- Python (hot technology)
- R (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Structured query language SQL (hot technology)
- Database software
- Email software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Complex Problem Solving, Quality Control Analysis, Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Evaluation, Time Management.
Common job titles: Analytical Laboratory Technician (Analytical Lab Technician), Chemical Analyst, Chemical Technician, Laboratory Analyst (Lab Analyst), Laboratory Technician (Lab Tech), Laboratory Tester (Lab Tester), Organic Preparation Analyst (Organic Prep Analyst), Quality Control Laboratory Technician (QC Lab Tech), Quality Control Technician (QC Tech), Research Technician.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do chemical technicians make?
The national median annual wage for chemical technicians was $60,390 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $41,740 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $92,040. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do chemical technicians need?
BLS lists associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is chemical technicians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of chemical technicians to change +4.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 7,600 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay chemical technicians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Louisiana ($85,850), Alaska ($79,380), Delaware ($78,620). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.