Chemist
Chemists study substances and how they react, and use that knowledge to create and test new materials, medicines, fuels, foods and consumer products.
What can you do with a chemistry degree?
Also called: Chemical sciences · Applied chemistry
Updated How we use data
Quick answer
A chemistry degree teaches how substances are built, how they react and how to make and analyse new materials, through theory and a lot of laboratory work. Graduates become chemists in industry and research laboratories. With further study or training, the degree also leads to careers in pharmacy, chemical engineering, food science and teaching, and its analytical skills are valued in business and finance.
Careers with a chemistry degree
Many graduates work as chemists in pharmaceuticals, materials, energy, agriculture, cosmetics and testing laboratories. Others become food scientists or biomedical scientists, or move into chemical engineering after further study. Some take a pharmacy degree to become pharmacists, and many train as secondary school teachers, as chemistry teachers are in short supply in many countries. Less obvious options include forensic science, patent work, regulatory affairs, environmental monitoring, science communication and finance.
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Pharmacist
Pharmacists are medicines experts who check and supply prescriptions, advise patients and other health professionals on using medicines safely, and in many countries give vaccinations or prescribe.
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Chemical engineer
Chemical engineers design and run the processes that turn raw materials into useful products such as fuels, medicines, plastics, food, fertilisers and clean water.
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Food scientist
Food scientists study the chemistry, biology and physics of food and use that knowledge to develop new products, improve recipes, and keep food safe, nutritious and long-lasting.
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Secondary school teacher
Secondary school teachers teach one or two subjects to students aged about eleven or twelve to eighteen and prepare them for national exams.
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Biomedical scientist
Biomedical scientists test samples of blood, tissue and body fluids in laboratories to help doctors diagnose and monitor disease, and they check that blood for transfusion is safe.
Other roles graduates go into: Forensic scientist · Materials scientist · Toxicologist · Regulatory affairs officer · Quality control analyst · Patent examiner
What you study and the skills you gain
Typical topics
- Organic chemistry
- Inorganic chemistry
- Physical chemistry
- Analytical chemistry and spectroscopy
- Laboratory skills and chemical safety
- Materials and polymer chemistry
- Biological and medicinal chemistry
- Mathematics and computing for chemists
Skills you gain
- Designing and carrying out experiments safely
- Using analytical instruments and interpreting results
- Solving problems with mathematical and logical reasoning
- Keeping accurate records and following strict procedures
- Writing scientific reports and presenting data
- Working both independently and in research teams
How the degree differs around the world
In the UK, a bachelor's degree usually takes three years, and an integrated master's takes four, which is popular with students aiming for research. Much of Europe follows a three-year bachelor's and two-year master's structure, and in some countries, such as Germany, many chemists also complete a doctorate before joining industry. In the United States, Canada and much of Asia it is typically a four-year degree. Entry usually requires chemistry and mathematics. Some programmes are accredited or approved by national chemistry societies, which can help with professional recognition later.
How do chemistry graduates do?
Earnings and employment by country
The OECD compares graduates by field of study. This subject falls under “Natural sciences, mathematics and statistics”. The first column compares the median earnings of tertiary-educated adults in this field with all tertiary-educated adults (100 = average).
| Country | Earnings index (all graduates = 100) | Employment rate, this field | Employment rate, all graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica | 138 (2023) | 77.1% (2024) | 79.2% |
| Chile | 125 (2023) | 84.3% (2022) | 85.7% |
| United States | 117 (2023) | 84.8% (2017) | 84.3% |
| Norway | 111 (2023) | 86.5% (2024) | 89.3% |
| Denmark | 111 (2023) | 82.4% (2021) | 87.8% |
| Mexico | 109 (2023) | 78.3% (2024) | 81.5% |
| Slovenia | 108 (2020) | 93.2% (2024) | 90.8% |
| South Korea | 106 (2023) | — | — |
| Estonia | 105 (2023) | 89.2% (2024) | 89.2% |
| Canada | 105 (2020) | 80.1% (2021) | 80.4% |
| Switzerland | 104 (2023) | 87.7% (2024) | 89.5% |
| Finland | 103 (2022) | 88.4% (2024) | 88.8% |
| Australia | 103 (2020) | 86.2% (2024) | 88.4% |
| Austria | 102 (2023) | 82.6% (2024) | 86.4% |
| Portugal | 101 (2020) | 86.1% (2024) | 90.7% |
| Sweden | 100 (2023) | 85.3% (2024) | 89.6% |
| Germany | 97 (2020) | 86.1% (2024) | 88.7% |
| Romania | 96 (2023) | 92.4% (2024) | 91.5% |
| Luxembourg | 94 (2023) | 79.5% (2024) | 85.7% |
| Latvia | 93 (2023) | 89.3% (2024) | 87.7% |
| United Kingdom | 92 (2020) | 83.2% (2021) | 84.6% |
| Iceland | — | 92.0% (2016) | 93.6% |
| Poland | — | 91.5% (2024) | 91.6% |
| France | — | 91.1% (2024) | 87.3% |
| Lithuania | — | 90.6% (2024) | 90.4% |
| Czechia | — | 90.0% (2024) | 88.4% |
| Netherlands | — | 89.0% (2024) | 90.6% |
| Ireland | — | 87.2% (2021) | 86.9% |
| Slovakia | — | 86.7% (2024) | 90.5% |
| Croatia | — | 86.1% (2024) | 89.7% |
| Spain | — | 84.5% (2024) | 83.9% |
| Belgium | — | 83.9% (2024) | 88.5% |
| Greece | — | 82.9% (2024) | 82.3% |
| Italy | — | 82.9% (2024) | 84.7% |
| Peru | — | 80.5% (2024) | 81.7% |
| Türkiye | — | 72.6% (2016) | 72.9% |
Source: OECD, Education at a Glance. Adults aged 25–64 with tertiary education; latest year available, full-time earners where published. Values are for the whole field of study, not this subject alone.
Graduate earnings in the UK
The UK government links tax records to university records to measure what graduates earn. These figures are for “Chemistry” first-degree graduates who were employed in the 2023–24 tax year.
| Time since graduating | Median | Lower quartile | Upper quartile | In work or study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| After 1 year | £27,100 | £22,700 | £32,200 | 90.6% |
| After 3 years | £32,900 | £27,400 | £41,400 | 90.6% |
| After 5 years | £38,100 | £31,100 | £50,400 | 91.7% |
| After 10 years | £45,000 | £34,400 | £60,800 | 86.7% |
Source: UK Department for Education, Graduate labour market outcomes (LEO), tax year 2023–24. Earnings are annual and include only graduates in sustained employment. More UK detail on CourseToJob.co.uk
Is a chemistry degree right for you?
It may suit you if
- You enjoy chemistry at school, especially experiments and problem solving.
- You are comfortable using mathematics and physics as tools.
- You like precise, careful work and finding out why results look the way they do.
Think twice if
- You do not enjoy long laboratory sessions and detailed reports.
- You want to avoid mathematics, which is important in physical chemistry.
- You want to lead research soon after graduating, as senior research roles usually need a PhD.
Further study
Further study is common. An integrated or separate master's is often expected for research and development roles, and a PhD is usually needed to lead research in industry or universities. Some graduates take a pharmacy degree, teacher training or a conversion master's in chemical engineering, data science or law. In some countries you can later gain professional recognition as a chartered or certified chemist.
Questions about studying chemistry
What jobs can you get with a chemistry degree?
Common jobs include chemist, analytical or quality control scientist, food scientist, biomedical scientist and chemistry teacher. With further study, graduates become pharmacists, chemical engineers or research scientists. Others work in forensic science, materials, energy, patents, regulatory affairs, environmental monitoring, science communication and finance, where employers value their analytical skills.
Can I become a pharmacist with a chemistry degree?
Not directly. Pharmacy is a regulated profession, and in most countries you need a specific pharmacy degree, supervised training and registration or a licence. A chemistry degree can help you get into a pharmacy programme, and in the United States and Canada the pharmacy degree is usually taken after some university study. Check your national regulator's rules.
Is chemistry a hard degree?
It is usually seen as demanding. You need to learn a lot of theory, use mathematics in physical chemistry and spend many hours in the laboratory, with reports to write after each practical. Students who enjoy problem solving and keep up with the work each week usually manage well.
Is a chemistry degree worth it?
Employers respect chemistry because it shows strong analytical and practical skills. It leads to jobs in science, industry, health and teaching, although many research roles need a master's or PhD. The official data on this page shows how chemistry graduates do in the UK, and results vary by country and by how much work experience you gain.
Related subjects
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Chemical engineering
A chemical engineering degree teaches how to turn raw materials into useful products on a large scale, safely and efficiently, using chemistry, physics, mathematics and biology.
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Biology
A biology degree teaches how living things work, from molecules and cells to whole organisms and ecosystems.
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Pharmacy
A pharmacy degree teaches how medicines are discovered, made and used, and how to make sure patients use them safely and effectively.
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Physics
A physics degree explores the laws that govern the universe, from particles and atoms to materials, energy and stars, using mathematics, experiments and computer models.
Sources
- OECD — Education at a Glance, labour-market outcomes — Earnings and employment by field of study, adults 25–64
- UK Department for Education — Graduate labour market outcomes (LEO) — CAH CAH07-02-01 — Chemistry
- UNESCO — ISCED-F 2013 — ISCED-F 0531
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). What can you do with a chemistry degree? Jobs and salaries. https://coursetojob.com/subjects/chemistry/ (accessed September 26, 2026)