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Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Chemical Technicians

Part of Manufacturing, in the Manufacturing Production Process Development pathway.

Bright outlookJob zone 3: medium preparationO*NET 19-4031.00

What the work is

Conduct chemical and physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative and quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, and gaseous materials for research and development of new products or processes, quality control, maintenance of environmental standards, and other work involving experimental, theoretical, or practical application of chemistry and related sciences.

On a typical day

  • Monitor product quality to ensure compliance with standards and specifications.
  • Set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses, using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, or microscopy.
  • Conduct chemical or physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative or quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, or gaseous materials.
  • Compile and interpret results of tests and analyses.
  • Provide technical support or assistance to chemists or engineers.
  • Prepare chemical solutions for products or processes, following standardized formulas, or create experimental formulas.

What it pays

$49,810
Median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro
New workers start near $40,930
Experienced workers reach $86,060
  1. $41k10th
  2. $44k25th
  3. $50kMedian
  4. $64k75th
  5. $86k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $40,930, 25th $44,120, Median $49,810, 75th $64,100, 90th $86,060

About 300 people do this job in the San Antonio area.

Job outlook

Alamo region (Bexar and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034. U.S. figures from the BLS for comparison.

+17.3%

employment change in the Alamo region, 266 to 312 jobs · U.S. +4%

37

openings a year in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 6,700

266

employed in the Alamo region in 2024 · U.S. 57,000

Typical entry education: Associate's degree · Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

  1. Science4.1
  2. Reading Comprehension4.1
  3. Critical Thinking4.1
  4. Writing4.0
  5. Active Listening3.9
  6. Monitoring3.9
  7. Speaking3.4
  8. Active Learning3.3

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

  1. High school or less33%
  2. Some college22%
  3. Bachelor's degree44%

Job zone 3, medium preparation: Training, an associate degree, or a few years of related experience.

Alamo programs that lead here

  • Northeast Lakeview
  • Northwest Vista
  • Palo Alto
  • St. Philip's
  • San Antonio
  1. Chemistry

    Transfer pre-major · Science & Technology

  2. Chemistry

    Transfer pre-major · Science & Technology

  3. Chemistry

    Degree · Transfer pre-major · Science & Technology

  4. Chemistry

    Transfer pre-major · Science & Technology

  5. Chemistry

    Transfer pre-major · Science & Technology

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