Activities	Conduct chemical and physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative and quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, and gaseous materials for purposes, such as 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.
Outlook	Average job growth
Median Income	$42,100 per year in 2008
Work Context & Conditions	Chemical technicians work indoors. They must be highly accurate in performing their job. Production technicians often work in 8-hour shifts around the clock. They may be exposed to hazards from equipment, chemicals, or toxic materials.
Minimum Education Requirements	Associate's Degree Technical Program
Skills	Quality Control Analysis, Active Listening, Mathematics, Operations Analysis, Reading Comprehension, Science
Abilities	Deductive Reasoning, Problem Sensitivity, Written Comprehension, Near Vision, Information Ordering

Job Category		Life, Physical, & Social Science
Job Description		Technicians use the principles and theories of science and mathematics to solve problems in research and development and to help invent and improve products and processes. However, their jobs are more practically oriented than those of scientists. Technicians set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments, monitor experiments, make observations, calculate and record results, and often develop conclusions. They must keep detailed logs of all of their work-related activities. Those who work in production monitor manufacturing processes and may be involved in ensuring quality by testing products for proper proportions of ingredients, for purity, or for strength and durability. As laboratory instrumentation and procedures have become more complex in recent years, the role of science technicians in research and development has expanded. In addition to performing routine tasks, many technicians also develop and adapt laboratory procedures to achieve the best results, interpret data, and devise solutions to problems, under the direction of scientists. Moreover, technicians must master the laboratory equipment so that they can adjust settings when necessary and recognize when equipment is malfunctioning. The increasing use of robotics to perform many routine tasks has freed technicians to operate more sophisticated laboratory equipment. Science technicians make extensive use of computers, computer-interfaced equipment, robotics, and high-technology industrial applications, such as biological engineering. Chemical technicians work with chemists and chemical engineers, developing and using chemicals and related products and equipment. Generally, there are two types of chemical technicians: research and development technicians who work in experimental laboratories and process control technicians who work in manufacturing or other industrial plants. Many research and development chemical technicians conduct a variety of laboratory procedures, from routine process control to complex research projects. For example, they may collect and analyze samples of air and water to monitor pollution levels, or they may produce compounds through complex organic synthesis.
Working Conditions		Chemical technicians work under a wide variety of conditions. Most work indoors, usually in laboratories, and have regular hours. Some occasionally work irregular hours to monitor experiments that can not be completed during regular working hours. Some science technicians may be exposed to hazards from equipment, chemicals, or toxic materials. Chemical technicians sometimes work with toxic chemicals or radioactive isotopes; however, these working conditions pose little risk, if proper safety procedures are followed.
Salary Range		Median annual earnings for chemical technicians were $42,100 in 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $32,700 and $53,300. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $26,200 per year and the highest 10 percent earned more than $64,600. In 2009, the average annual salary in the Federal Government was $39,538 for biological science technicians.

Education Required		There are several ways to qualify for a job as a chemical technician. Many employers prefer applicants who have at least 2 years of specialized training or an associate degree in applied science or science-related technology. Because employers' preferences vary, however, some science technicians have a bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, or forensic science, or have taken several science and math courses at 4-year colleges. Many technical and community colleges offer associate degrees in a specific technology or a more general education in science and mathematics. A number of 2-year associate degree programs are designed to provide easy transfer to a 4-year college or university, if desired. Technical institutes usually offer technician training, but provide less theory and general education than technical or community colleges. The length of programs at technical institutes varies, although 1-year certificate programs and 2-year associate degree programs are common. Some schools offer cooperative-education or internship programs, allowing students the opportunity to work at a local company or other workplace, while attending classes in alternate terms. Participation in such programs can significantly enhance a student's employment prospects. Persons interested in careers as science technicians should take as many high school science and math courses as possible. Science courses taken beyond high school, in an associate or bachelor’s degree program, should be laboratory oriented, with an emphasis on bench skills. A solid background in applied basic chemistry, physics, and math is vital. Because computers often are used in research and development laboratories, technicians should have strong computer skills. Communication skills also are important; technicians often are required to report their findings both orally and in writing. Additionally, technicians should be able to work well with others, because teamwork is common. Organizational ability, an eye for detail, and skill in interpreting scientific results also are important. High mechanical aptitude, attention to detail, and analytical thinking are all important characteristics of science technicians. Prospective chemical technicians can acquire good career preparation through 2-year formal training programs that combine the teaching of scientific principles and theory with practical hands-on application in a laboratory setting with up-to-date equipment. Graduates of 4-year bachelor's degree programs in science who have considerable experience in laboratory-based courses, have completed internships, or held summer jobs in laboratories, are also well-qualified for science technician positions and are preferred by some employers. However, those with a bachelor's degree who accept technician jobs generally cannot find employment that uses their advanced academic education. Chemical technicians usually begin work as trainees in routine positions, under the direct supervision of a scientist or a more experienced technician. Job candidates whose training or educational background encompasses extensive hands-on experience with a variety of laboratory equipment, including computers and related equipment, usually require a short period of on-the-job training. As they gain experience, technicians take on more responsibility and carry out assignments under only general supervision, and some eventually become supervisors. However, technicians employed at universities working for a particular professor, sometimes face uncertain employment prospects when the professor leaves or retires.
Recommended High School Courses		Computers and Electronics, Biology, Mathematics, Chemistry
Postsecondary Instructional Programs		English Language, Mathematics, Chemistry
Certification and Licensing		None

Interest Area		Investigative Involves working with ideas and requires an extensive amount of thinking. Realistic Involves working on practical, hands-on problems and solutions, often with real-world materials, tools, and machinery.
Work Values		Moral Values Never pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong. Supervision, Human Relations Supervisors back up their workers with management. Security Have steady employment. Activity Busy all the time.
Skills		Quality Control Analysis Conduct tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance. Active Listening Listen to what other people are saying and ask questions as appropriate. Mathematics Use math to solve problems. Operations Analysis Analyze needs and product requirements to create a design. Reading Comprehension Understand written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. Science Use scientific methods to solve problems.
Abilities		Deductive Reasoning Able to apply general rules to specific problems to come up with logical answers, including deciding whether an answer makes sense. Problem Sensitivity Able to tell when something is wrong or likely to go wrong. This doesn't involve solving the problem, just recognizing that there is a problem. Written Comprehension Able to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. Near Vision Able to see details of objects at a close range (within a few feet of the observer). Information Ordering Able to correctly follow rules for arranging things or actions in a certain order, including numbers, words, pictures, procedures, and logical operations.

Related Jobs		Chemist, Engineer, Industrial Safety and Health, Technician, Biological, Technician, Radiologic, Technician, Medical and Clinical Laboratory, Sonographer, Diagnostic Medical, Technologist, Radiologic, Technician, Environmental Science and Protection, Including Health, Technician, Forensic Science
Job Outlook		Chemical technicians held a total of 66,100 jobs in 2008. Chemical technicians held jobs in a wide range of manufacturing and service-providing industries. About 39 percent worked in chemical manufacturing and another 30 percent worked in professional, scientific, or technical services firms. Job growth for chemical technicians is projected to grow more slowly than average. The chemical manufacturing industry, the major employer of chemical technicians, will experience a decline in overall employment as companies downsize and turn to outside contractors to provide specialized services. Job opportunities are expected to be more plentiful in pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing as the public continues to demand newer and better pharmaceuticals. To meet this demand, pharmaceutical manufacturing firms are expected to continue to devote money to research and development, either through in-house teams, or, increasingly, by contracting to scientific research and development services firms, spurring employment growth of chemical technicians in that industry. An increasing focus on quality assurance will require a greater number of process technicians, further stimulating demand for these workers. Job opportunities are expected to be best for qualified graduates of chemical technician training programs or applied science technology programs who are well-trained on equipment used in industrial and government laboratories and production facilities. As the instrumentation and techniques used in industrial research, development, and production become increasingly more complex, employers are seeking well-trained individuals with highly developed technical and communication skills. Along with opportunities created by growth, many job openings should arise from the need to replace technicians who retire or leave the labor force for other reasons.
More Information		American Chemical Society
References		Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Science Technicians, on the http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos115.htm O*NET OnLine, on the Internet at http://online.onetcenter.org/link/summary/19-4031.00