Chemist
Chemists investigate the chemical make up of substances and work out how they behave under different conditions.
Typical Salary
£26,000 – £40,000
per year
Working Hours
37–42
hours per week
Day-to-day tasks
Your tasks will depend on the sector you work in.
As a chemist, you could:
- research and develop new medicines and products
- investigate environmental issues
- diagnose and treat illness and disease
- analyse forensic evidence
- teach, lecture or carry out academic research
- supervise the work of other team members, such as laboratory technicians
Skills needed
- knowledge of chemistry including the safe use and disposal of chemicals
- maths knowledge
- science skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- complex problem-solving skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- analytical thinking skills
- the ability to work well with others
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to get into this role
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
Career progression
You'll find opportunities with a wide range of employers including:
- the NHS
- public health laboratories
- research institutes
- government agencies
- commercial industries
You could be involved in research and development, patent work, health and safety or forensic science. You could also move into teaching, lecturing, or science writing and communication.
As an experienced chemist you could work towards chartered status like Chartered Chemist (CChem) and Chartered Scientist (CSci).