An undergraduate degree in chemistry could be the first step toward a successful career with a great salary.
Using data from Payscale.com, we identified some of the best-paying careers you can pursue as a chemistry major. Unsurprisingly, pre-med chemistry majors go on to earn significant salaries after additional schooling.
Learn more about the top-paying science careers for chemistry majors.
| Average Salaries of Chemistry Majors | ||
| Early Career | Late Career | |
| Anesthesiologist | $253,000 | $340,000 |
| Doctor | $179,000 | $200,000 |
| Biotech Researcher | $81,000 | $96,000 |
| Pharmacologist | $77,000 | $123,000 |
| Materials Scientist | $76,000 | $120,000 |
| Research Scientist | $75,000 | $99,000 |
| Chemical Engineer | $67,000 | $123,000 |
| Toxicologist | $65,000 | $117,000 |
| R&D Manager | $63,000 | $117,000 |
| Drug Safety Specialist | $61,000 | $97,000 |
| Quality Assurance Manager | $61,000 | $91,000 |
| Pharmaceutical Sales Rep | $58,000 | $108,000 |
| Radiochemist | $55,000 | $89,000 |
| Staff Scientist | $53,000 | $108,000 |
| Epidemiologist | $51,000 | $98,000 |
1. Anesthesiologist
Anesthesiologists are trained doctors who specialize in safely administering anesthesia. Many medical scientists earn top salaries, but anesthesiologists have especially high earnings. Entry-level jobs can pay as much as $253,000.
2. Doctor
A primary care doctor works on a wide variety of health concerns. These medical generalists commonly have strong earnings, but it does take many years of schooling and licensing exams to qualify for these jobs.
3. Biotechnology Researcher
The high-paid professionals in biotech research rely on skills in chemistry, molecular biology and genetics. Those with a bachelor’s degree can pursue a research assistant position, but a Ph.D. is usually required to work at most biotechnology firms.
4. Pharmacologist
Pharmacists study how drugs interact with the human body and commonly determine drug effectiveness and optimal dosage. Becoming a pharmacologist is one way for a chemistry major to enter the health care industry without medical school. Colleges like Rutgers University offer a PharmD program, where it takes just six years to go from high school to earning a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
5. Materials Scientist
Materials scientists study the chemical composition of things. On the development side, this can include studying substances such as carbon-reinforced plastics, batteries, semiconductors, metal alloys, graphene and more. While chemistry is a strong portion of materials science, professionals also have a strong understanding of solid-state physics.
6. Research Scientist
A typical research position will be involved in the scientific process of designing experiments, implementing studies, performing analysis and interpreting results. While a research scientist can focus on a wide range of areas, many job candidates have a degree in chemistry or biochemistry.
7. Chemical Engineer
Chemical engineers solve materials problems. This can include anything from cleaning water to developing microelectronics, and so much more. Many colleges will offer a chemical engineering specialty because professionals need to integrate chemistry knowledge with mechanical engineering and fluid dynamics.
8. Toxicologist
Toxicologists investigate chemical safety and how compounds affect humans and animals. Positions can require skills that are similar to an analytical chemist. These top earners frequently work in the pharmaceutical industry analyzing drugs. Professionals can also focus on environmental issues where scientists may collect and analyze samples of soil and water.
9. R&D Manager
Research and Development Managers oversee a lab in conducting experiments or bringing a new product to market. Positions can be found in a range of industries including manufacturing, agriculture, energy and more. R&D chemists usually require higher education beyond a bachelor’s degree.
10. Drug Safety Specialist
These high-paying jobs focus on the safety criteria of drugs, including reporting information to the FDA, reviewing side effects, and maintaining databases on drug safety information.
11. Quality Assurance Manager
Quality assurance professionals earn their great salaries by validating research reports or product claims to ensure that they meet specifications. Many QA scientists have a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, but a master’s degree could be helpful to progress to higher-level roles.
12. Pharmaceutical Sales Rep
A chemistry degree can also lead to a job in sales or business. Even though pharmaceutical sales representatives aren’t practicing scientists, a background in chemistry improves their ability to understand and market pharmaceuticals. These jobs typically require a bachelor’s degree. However, those who have a graduate degree in business or science are especially attractive job candidates.
13. Radiochemist
Radiochemists study radioactive elements, and positions are available in nuclear energy, pharmaceuticals, nuclear medicine, environmental analysis or archeology. A strong understanding of science and math help radiochemists get hired for top-paying jobs.
14. Staff Scientist
Staff scientists can have a variety of job roles depending on the organization or company. Job listings show that some positions are similar to a post-doc research position with responsibilities for performing experiments and writing papers. In other cases, the position could be hired for subject matter expertise to provide corporate guidance.
15. Epidemiologist
Jobs in epidemiology study the spread of communicable diseases, an especially relevant role during COVID-19. Many epidemiologists work in public health for government agencies. Research on illnesses can include disparate factors such as diet, behavior, genetics and habits. Dr. Birx of the Coronavirus Task Force started her career path with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry.
