# Chemical Technicians

> Conduct chemical and physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative and quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, and gaseous materials for research and development of new products or processes, quality control, maintenance of environmental standards, and other work involving experimental, theoretical, or practical application of chemistry and related sciences.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 19-4031.00
- **Summary:** Conduct chemical and physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative and quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, and gaseous materials for research and development of new products or processes, quality control, maintenance of environmental standards, and other work involving experimental, theoretical, or practical application of chemistry and related sciences.

## Aliases

- Chemical Technician
- Laboratory Analyst (Lab Analyst)
- Laboratory Technician (Lab Tech)
- Quality Control Technician (QC Tech)
- Analytical Laboratory Technician (Analytical Lab Technician)
- Chemical Analyst
- Laboratory Tester (Lab Tester)
- Organic Preparation Analyst (Organic Prep Analyst)
- Quality Control Laboratory Technician (QC Lab Tech)
- Research Technician
- Analysis Tester
- Analytical Technician

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Conduct chemical or physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative or quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, or gaseous materials. | Core | 4.A.2.a.4.j |
| Maintain, clean, or sterilize laboratory instruments or equipment. | Core | 4.A.3.a.1.h |
| Monitor product quality to ensure compliance with standards and specifications. | Core | 4.A.2.a.1.e |
| Set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses, using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, or microscopy. | Core | 4.A.2.a.4.j |
| Prepare chemical solutions for products or processes, following standardized formulas, or create experimental formulas. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.au |
| Compile and interpret results of tests and analyses. | Core | 4.A.2.a.4.g |
| Provide and maintain a safe work environment by participating in safety programs, committees, or teams and by conducting laboratory or plant safety audits. | Core | 4.A.4.b.4.b |
| Provide technical support or assistance to chemists or engineers. | Core | 4.A.4.a.2.b |
| Develop or conduct programs of sampling and analysis to maintain quality standards of raw materials, chemical intermediates, or products. | Core | 4.A.1.a.2.k |
| Train new employees on topics such as the proper operation of laboratory equipment. | Core | 4.A.4.b.3.d |
| Write technical reports or prepare graphs or charts to document experimental results. | Core | 4.A.3.b.6.c |
| Order and inventory materials to maintain supplies. | Core | 4.A.4.b.4.e |

## Emerging Tasks


## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Evaluate quality of materials or products. | 4.A.2.a.1.e |
| Analyze chemical compounds or substances. | 4.A.2.a.4.j |
| Set up laboratory or field equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.at |
| Interpret research or operational data. | 4.A.2.a.4.g |
| Collaborate on research activities with scientists or technical specialists. | 4.A.4.a.2.b |
| Assist engineers or scientists with research. | 4.A.4.a.2.b |
| Prepare compounds or solutions for products or testing. | 4.A.3.a.2.au |
| Clean objects. | 4.A.3.a.1.h |
| Maintain laboratory or technical equipment. | 4.A.3.b.5.c |
| Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations. | 4.A.3.b.6.c |
| Manage scientific or technical project resources. | 4.A.4.b.4.e |
| Monitor processes for compliance with standards. | 4.A.1.a.2.k |
| Collect samples for analysis or testing. | 4.A.3.a.2.b |
| Supervise scientific or technical personnel. | 4.A.4.b.4.a |
| Operate laboratory or field equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.i |
| Develop new or advanced products or production methods. | 4.A.3.b.2.f |
| Serve on institutional or departmental committees. | 4.A.4.b.4.b |
| Train personnel in technical or scientific procedures. | 4.A.4.b.3.d |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Science | essential_skill | 4.12 |
| Reading Comprehension | essential_skill | 4 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 4 |
| Written Comprehension | ability | 4 |
| Near Vision | ability | 4 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 3.88 |
| Writing | essential_skill | 3.88 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 3.88 |
| Written Expression | ability | 3.88 |
| Chemistry | knowledge | 3.81 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 3.75 |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 3.75 |
| Inductive Reasoning | ability | 3.75 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 3.75 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 3.62 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 3.62 |
| Category Flexibility | ability | 3.62 |
| English Language | knowledge | 3.52 |
| Mathematics | knowledge | 3.39 |
| Speaking | essential_skill | 3.38 |
| Active Learning | essential_skill | 3.38 |
| Speech Clarity | ability | 3.38 |
| Operations Monitoring | transferable_skill | 3.25 |
| Speech Recognition | ability | 3.25 |
| Learning Strategies | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Complex Problem Solving | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Quality Control Analysis | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Systems Evaluation | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Time Management | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | ability | 3.12 |
| Flexibility of Closure | ability | 3.12 |
| Visualization | ability | 3.12 |
| Selective Attention | ability | 3.12 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | ability | 3.12 |
| Manual Dexterity | ability | 3.12 |
| Finger Dexterity | ability | 3.12 |
| Control Precision | ability | 3.12 |
| Computers and Electronics | knowledge | 3.11 |
| Mathematics | essential_skill | 3 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| Chemistry | Specialized Skill |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Outlook | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Excel | Common Skill |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Finger Dexterity | Common Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Microsoft Word | Common Skill |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Access | Specialized Skill |
| Linux | Specialized Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| Equipment Maintenance | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Selection | Specialized Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| Email Software | Specialized Skill |
| Database Software | Specialized Skill |
| Depth Perception | Common Skill |
| Biology | Specialized Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Geography | Specialized Skill |
| Psychology | Specialized Skill |
| Foreign Language | Common Skill |
| Presentation Software | Specialized Skill |
| Installation | Specialized Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | yes |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | yes |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software | yes | yes |
| C++ | Object or component oriented development software | yes | no |
| Linux | Operating system software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Access | Data base user interface and query software | yes | no |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | yes | no |
| Oracle Database | Data base user interface and query software | yes | no |
| Oracle Java | Object or component oriented development software | yes | no |
| Python | Object or component oriented development software | yes | no |
| R | Object or component oriented development software | yes | no |
| SAP software | Enterprise resource planning ERP software | yes | no |
| Structured query language SQL | Data base user interface and query software | yes | no |
| Database software | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| Email software | Electronic mail software | no | no |
| Laboratory information management system LIMS | Analytical or scientific software | no | no |
| Software development tools | Development environment software | no | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| E-Mail | 5 |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | 5 |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.99 |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 4.91 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | 4.89 |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 4.87 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 4.57 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | 4.49 |
| Time Pressure | 4.35 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 4.16 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 4 |
| Contact With Others | 3.9 |
| Consequence of Error | 3.84 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 3.84 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 3.74 |
| Spend Time Standing | 3.67 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 3.65 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 3.62 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 3.57 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 3.35 |
| Telephone Conversations | 3.33 |
| Level of Competition | 3.16 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 3.11 |
| Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers | 3.08 |
| Physical Proximity | 3.02 |
| Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment | 2.95 |
| Written Letters and Memos | 2.88 |
| Spend Time Walking or Running | 2.83 |
| Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | 2.81 |
| Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People | 2.71 |
| Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection | 2.7 |
| Deal With External Customers or the Public in General | 2.64 |
| Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled | 2.63 |
| Degree of Automation | 2.5 |
| Conflict Situations | 2.46 |
| Spend Time Sitting | 2.4 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Equipment | 2.38 |
| Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions | 2.37 |
| Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body | 2.37 |
| Outdoors, Under Cover | 2.07 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 3
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- **Experience:** Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- **Svp Range:** (6.0 to < 7.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| High School Diploma | 33.34 |
| Some College Courses | 22.42 |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 0.5 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Physical Science | specific_interest_area | 6.17 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 5.8 |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 5.45 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 5.25 |
| Life Science | specific_interest_area | 3.61 |
| Engineering | specific_interest_area | 3.31 |
| Mathematics/Statistics | specific_interest_area | 3.19 |
| Medical Science | specific_interest_area | 3.17 |
| Dependability | work_style | 3 |
| Attention to Detail | work_style | 2.74 |
| Cautiousness | work_style | 2.43 |
| Mechanics/Electronics | specific_interest_area | 2.25 |
| Physical/Manual Labor | specific_interest_area | 2.17 |
| Information Technology | specific_interest_area | 1.95 |
| Integrity | work_style | 1.89 |
| Achievement Orientation | work_style | 1.74 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 19-2031.00 | role-19-2031-00 | Chemists | Primary-Short |
| 17-3028.00 | role-17-3028-00 | Calibration Technologists and Technicians | Primary-Short |
| 17-2041.00 | role-17-2041-00 | Chemical Engineers | Primary-Short |
| 17-3026.01 | role-17-3026-01 | Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians | Primary-Short |
| 51-8091.00 | role-51-8091-00 | Chemical Plant and System Operators | Primary-Short |
| 17-3026.00 | role-17-3026-00 | Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | Primary-Long |
| 29-2012.00 | role-29-2012-00 | Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians | Primary-Long |
| 19-4099.01 | role-19-4099-01 | Quality Control Analysts | Primary-Long |
| 19-4013.00 | role-19-4013-00 | Food Science Technicians | Primary-Long |
| 19-4012.00 | role-19-4012-00 | Agricultural Technicians | Primary-Long |
| 29-2011.00 | role-29-2011-00 | Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists | Supplemental |
| 17-2131.00 | role-17-2131-00 | Materials Engineers | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Advanced Manufacturing | advanced-manufacturing |

## Education Level

- **Category:** Associate's degree

## Study Programs

| Title | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Physical Sciences | physical-sciences |
| Science Technologies/Technicians | science-technologies-technicians |

## Market

- **Median Wage:** 57790
- **Mean Wage:** 61300
- **Pct10Wage:** 39030
- **Pct25Wage:** 46680
- **Pct75Wage:** 72940
- **Pct90Wage:** 90990
- **Employment:** 55640
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 24110 | 59760 | 5.23 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 17930 | 50290 | 4.61 |
| 541380 | 541380 | Testing Laboratories and Services | National industry | 11160 | 47070 | 181.49 |
| 42 | 42 | Wholesale Trade | Sector | 2620 | 58460 | 1.2 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 2320 | 48720 | 0.71 |
| 61 | 61 | Educational Services | Sector | 2030 | 57550 | 0.41 |
| 55 | 55 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | Sector | 1580 | 61730 | 1.56 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 1480 | 47130 | 1.55 |
| 21 | 21 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | Sector | 1080 | 64900 | 5.22 |
| 541330 | 541330 | Engineering Services | National industry | 1070 | 52000 | 2.56 |
| 22 | 22 | Utilities | Sector | 730 | 98700 | 3.49 |
| 23 | 23 | Construction | Sector | 540 | 45590 | 0.18 |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 541380 | 541380 | Testing Laboratories and Services | National industry | 11160 | 181.49 |
| 221113 | 221113 | Nuclear Electric Power Generation | National industry | 270 | 20.15 |
| 221112 | 221112 | Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation | National industry | 230 | 8.94 |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 24110 | 5.23 |
| 21 | 21 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | Sector | 1080 | 5.22 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 17930 | 4.61 |
| 22 | 22 | Utilities | Sector | 730 | 3.49 |
| 541330 | 541330 | Engineering Services | National industry | 1070 | 2.56 |
- **Count:** 17

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.57 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | 0.0628057 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | 0.4307853 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | -0.0940159 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 49
- **Percentile:** 48
- **Band:** Moderate
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 49 | felten_aioe |
| 53 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 46 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | 0.0628057 | 49 | Moderate | How much this job's abilities overlap with what AI systems can do, across many AI capabilities. A relative research score, not a forecast of job loss. |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 0.6428571428571428 | 53 | Moderate | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.1397871985751076 | 46 | Moderate | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Frey Historical

- **Source:** frey
- **Label:** Computerization probability (Frey & Osborne, 2013)
- **Value:** 0.57
- **Percentile:** 49
- **Band:** Moderate
- **Note:** A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
- **Teleworkable:** no

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0.14285714285714285
- **Beta:** 0.39285714285714285
- **Gamma:** 0.6428571428571428

### Usage Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Importance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses, using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, or microscopy. | 0.07538751648459999 | 4.35 |
| Compile and interpret results of tests and analyses. | 0.061727380663820976 | 4.26 |
| Write technical reports or prepare graphs or charts to document experimental results. | 0.012735765727643594 | 3.87 |
| Provide technical support or assistance to chemists or engineers. | 0.0115032722701297 | 4.17 |
| Develop new chemical engineering processes or production techniques. | 0.008627454202597275 | 3.03 |
| Prepare chemical solutions for products or processes, following standardized formulas, or create experimental formulas. | 0.004621850465677112 | 4.35 |
- **Usage Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** 3.7
- **Growth Percentile:** 61
- **Direction:** About average
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 6.7
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 55
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 57
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 59

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| dingel_neiman | dingel-neiman-workathome |
| felten_aioe | felten-raj-seamans-aioe |
| frey_osborne | frey-osborne-automation |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Ai Playbook

- **Trusted Task Count:** 5
- **Task Count:** 6
- **Total Sample:** 1118
- **Autonomy Median:** 4
- **Dominant Collaboration:** directive
- **Automation Share:** 38.9
- **Augmentation Share:** 53.86
- **Work Use Percent:** 37.26

### Collaboration

| Label | Percent |
| --- | --- |
| directive | 26.84 |
| task iteration | 25.48 |
| learning | 24.3 |
| feedback loop | 12.06 |
| validation | 4.08 |

### Use Case

| Label | Percent |
| --- | --- |
| coursework | 57.3 |
| work | 37.26 |
| personal | 3.08 |

### Delegated Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Collaboration | Autonomy Median | Sample Count |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Provide technical support or assistance to chemists or engineers. | 0.03880485060632579 | learning | 4 | 388 |
| Set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses, using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, or microscopy. | 0.02490311288911114 | directive | 4 | 249 |
| Write technical reports or prepare graphs or charts to document experimental results. | 0.022002750343792975 | task iteration | 4 | 220 |
| Develop new chemical engineering processes or production techniques. | 0.016902112764095513 | learning | 4 | 169 |
| Compile and interpret results of tests and analyses. | 0.0077009626203275415 | directive | 3 | 77 |

### Boundary Tasks

| Task | Human Needed Percent | Sample Count |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Compile and interpret results of tests and analyses. | 96.1038961038961 | 77 |
| Set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses, using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, or microscopy. | 89.95983935742971 | 249 |
| Write technical reports or prepare graphs or charts to document experimental results. | 78.18181818181819 | 220 |
| Develop new chemical engineering processes or production techniques. | 74.55621301775149 | 169 |
| Provide technical support or assistance to chemists or engineers. | 73.96907216494846 | 388 |

### Seed Prompts

| Prompt | Collaboration |
| --- | --- |
| Teach me how to provide technical support or assistance to chemists or engineers, then check my work as I try it myself. | learning |
| Do this for me: set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses, using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, or microscopy. Give me a finished draft I can review and adjust. | directive |
| Let's work through this together, step by step: write technical reports or prepare graphs or charts to document experimental results. I'll give feedback as we go. | task iteration |
| Teach me how to develop new chemical engineering processes or production techniques, then check my work as I try it myself. | learning |
| Do this for me: compile and interpret results of tests and analyses. Give me a finished draft I can review and adjust. | directive |
- **Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 16
- **Skills:** 40
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 18
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** c801c4ce8a179e2f