Chemistry lab technician careers: job description & salary info

Chemistry lab technicians primarily work in research and development or manufacturing environments and may assist in anything from routine testing and monitoring procedures to complex investigative analyses utilizing chemical processes and products. Employers most often look for candidates with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry or a related area.

Chemistry lab technicians may produce compounds, perform manual and automated testing of selected materials and products, interpret and record data or operate and maintain lab instruments for projects as varied as monitoring water pollution levels to identifying the stability of drug products and clinical packaging. Here are two sample excerpts illustrating responsibilities from Monster.com:

‘Monitors and maintains adequate inventories of consumables, chemical/compounds, and solvents. Negotiates price and submits requisitions. Receives, distributes and weighs out samples for testing, shipments, and stock solutions. Performs limited troubleshooting and calibration of instruments.'- Idenix Pharmaceuticals.

'This position conducts analytical testing on a wide variety of sample types using a variety of chromatographic techniques. Prepare samples, reagents, and standard solutions. Operate and maintain laboratory instruments such as a GC and HPLC.'- Galbraith Laboratories, Inc.

A bachelor's degree is usually required for this type of position, though some employers accept an associate's or training from a technical school. An advanced degree will be needed for some higher level situations. Candidates should have from one to five years of practical work experience where they become skilled at using various equipment and knowledgeable about lab procedures.

The median hourly earnings of chemical lab technicians in the USA is $18.35 with job growth projected to be slower than average; however, techs well trained on equipment used in industrial and government laboratories and production facilities, or working in pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing, should fare better. With experience, some techs may go on to supervisory roles.

Many of these professionals find work as contract employees through any number of hiring agencies. This type of job may either be long-term or simply provide income and experience prior to securing an in-house position.

Exercise 18: Work with the group - Read the text once again and find out if the information

1. True

2. False

3. The text doesn’t consist any information:

Questions	Answers
Employers most often look for candidates with a master's degree in chemistry or a related area.	
Chemistry lab technicians may perform manual and automated testing of selected materials and products.	
Candidates should have from five to ten years of practical work experience where they become skilled at using various equipment and knowledgeable about lab procedures.	
The median hourly earnings of chemical lab technicians in the USA is $28.35.	
Many of these professionals find work as contract employees through any number of hiring agencies.	

Exercise 19: Work with the group. Answer the questions:

1. Where do chemistry lab technicians primarily work?

a) in manufacturing environment

b) in private laboratories

c) in research and development or manufacturing environments

d) in research environments

2. What scientific degree should you have to be given this position?

a) master’s degree

b) bachelor’s degree

c) doctor of science degree

3. What type of agency can help you to take up this position?

a) travel agency

b) hiring agency

c) model agency