Overall, employment of chemists and materials scientists is projected to grow 6% from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 8,200 openings for chemists and materials scientists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as retirement (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2022).
According to the IU Indianapolis First Destination Survey in 2021, the average starting salary for graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry was $43,169, and the median was $43,306.
The national mean starting salary for graduates who majored in chemistry was $44,981 for the class of May 2020, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).
(This section is intended for informational purposes, not prediction of actual salary.)
A degree in chemistry can also provide an educational foundation for admission to professional schools or to advanced degrees in fields such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, law, business, engineering, etc. Graduates with a master’s degree, and particularly those with a Ph.D., will enjoy better opportunities than those with a bachelor’s degree (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016–2017).
