
Chemistry Careers

Love chemistry? Turn it into a career! Explore the wide range of careers that use chemistry in some way. Get started with these links and suggestions.
Careers & the Chemical Sciences
Check out different chemistry careers, meet chemists in the real world, and see where chemistry can take you!
- A Future in Chemistry
“Not all chemists wear white coats!” We agree! Students, teachers, and parents can all find info tailored to their situation here. - Careers in Chemistry
Chocolate. Cereal. Medicines. Paint. Make-up. It all takes chemistry! (And someone to do that chemistry.) - So Many Nontraditional Chemistry Careers...Lots of great profiles of jobs you probably never thought of linking with chemistry. Explore!
- What Can You Do with a Degree in Chemistry?
What can you do? Maybe the question is, what can’t you do? Have a look at this list! - Introducing High School Students to Chemical Engineering
Check out this presentation that helped answer the question: “What can chemical engineers do?” - The Secret Life of Scientists and Engineers
What do scientists and engineers do when they aren't in the lab? They are athletes, musicians, artists and more!
- Visit a local lab, university, or other job location, such as a water treatment plant or crime laboratory, for a tour.
- Shadow someone in a chemistry-related career for a day or two to observe the profession firsthand.
- Invite several people involved in different chemistry-related careers to a Club meeting for a panel discussion. Each panel member could briefly describe his or her job and answer student questions.
- Invite someone involved in a chemistry-related career to a Club meeting for a longer presentation, where they could possibly demonstrate what they do. Invite someone from your ACS local section! Find your local section.
- Have Club members survey people in the community to ask “Do you use chemistry in your job? How?”
- Explore the different Technical Divisions within ACS.
- Maintain a bulletin board or binder profiling different careers in the chemical field.