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Chemist

Also called biochemist, toxicologist, pharmacologist

Chemists perform laboratory research by testing and analysing the chemical structure of substances.They translate the research results into industrial production processes which are further used in the development or improvement of products. Chemists are also testing the quality of the manufactured products and their environmental impact.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospects40 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Science and engineering professionalsWhat does it pay?Above averageFrom about €2,000 (Bulgaria) to €7,100 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Science and engineering professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually a degree9 in 10 have a degree.Science and engineering professionalsWill AI change it?LittleLevel 2 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Chemists · ILO

What you'd do

Chemists · ILO
  • Conducting research and improving or developing concepts, instruments, theories and operational methods related to chemistry
  • Conducting experiments, tests and analyses to investigate chemical composition and energy and chemical changes in various natural or synthetic substances, materials and products
  • Developing procedures for environmental control, quality control and various other procedures for manufacturers or users
  • Conducting programmes of sample and data collection and analysis to identify and quantify environmental toxicants
  • Participating in interdisciplinary research and development projects working with chemical engineers, biologists, microbiologists, agronomists, geologists or other professionals
  • Using micro-organisms to convert substances into new compounds
  • Determining ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials
  • Reproducing and synthesizing naturally occurring substances and creating new artificial substances
  • Preparing scientific papers and reports
Apply scientific methodsConduct research across disciplinesManage findable accessible interoperable and reusable dataThink abstractlyCommunicate with a non-scientific audience+ 41 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Lots of contact with people
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Chemists"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

Many jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as science and engineering professionals in the EU
5.82m7.82m9.03m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
948,000 new jobs 2,300,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Science and engineering professionals40
All jobs29
Right now
5 of 27 countries report a shortage of chemists, 6 a surplus.
Chemists · EURES

What does it pay?

Above average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €2,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €7,100 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among professionals in the EU, women earn 21% less per hour than men. Professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually a degree

A degree in chemistry is the usual route.

Highest qualification of science and engineering professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 90%Vocational 6%General secondary 3%Basic schooling 1%
Field that teaches it
Chemistry
Vocational route, EU
Fewer than 1 in 10 trainees in this field
Science and maths graduates in a matching job
63% in the EU

697 institutions in the EU offer science and maths bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Little

AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.39 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 9 tasks
Conducting research and improving or developing concepts, instruments, theories and operational methods related to chemistry0.55
Preparing scientific papers and reports0.51
Reproducing and synthesizing naturally occurring substances and creating new artificial substances0.42
Developing procedures for environmental control, quality control and various other procedures for manufacturers or users0.39
Conducting programmes of sample and data collection and analysis to identify and quantify environmental toxicants0.39
Conducting experiments, tests and analyses to investigate chemical composition and energy and chemical changes in various natural or synthetic substances, materials and products0.37
Participating in interdisciplinary research and development projects working with chemical engineers, biologists, microbiologists, agronomists, geologists or other professionals0.35
Determining ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials0.29
Using micro-organisms to convert substances into new compounds0.23

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for chemists. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).