Chemical scientists analyse and research physical aspects of chemical structure and change within substances and develop chemical techniques used in the manufacture or modification of natural substances and processed products.
Also calledAnalytical chemistTechnical officerScientistResearch and development chemistDevelopment chemistPhysical chemistand 44 more titles
Recruitment from abroad. 65 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026, most to people from United States, India, China, ranking it 119th of 313. Home Office
Who does it
ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
92%hold a degree
46%women
Age of chemists
Age profile of chemists
18%!
43%!
22%!
n/p
n/p
n/p
16–2425–3435–4445–5455–6465+
!Small sample: treat with cautionn/p: too few in the survey to publishShow as table
16–24
18% (small sample)
25–34
43% (small sample)
35–44
22% (small sample)
45–54
Not published
55–64
Not published
65+
Not published
Highest qualification
Highest qualification held by chemists
Degree or equivalent92%
Higher education below degree!3.3%
A levels or equivalent!8.4%
!Small sample: treat with cautionShow as table
Degree or equivalent
92%
Higher education below degree
3.3% (small sample)
A levels or equivalent
8.4% (small sample)
Main employers: manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products (18%), other research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering (12%), tertiary education (7%), technical testing and analysis (5.7%).
How to get in
Hold a degree
92%
as their highest qualification
Apprenticeships
None
none leads directly into this work
Routes in
You can get into this job through:
University
You can study for a degree to become a chemist.
Degree subjects include:
chemistry
applied or analytical chemistry
medicinal chemistry
biochemistry
As well as a degree, many employers will also want you to have a relevant postgraduate qualification.
Some universities offer an extended degree which leads directly to a postgraduate qualification like an MChem or MSci. These courses have more independent research and can lead into a job or further postgraduate study.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including chemistry
a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
Apprenticeship
You can apply for a Higher or Degree Apprenticeship to get into this role, for example:
Technician Scientist Level 5
Scientist Level 6
Research Scientist Level 7
These apprenticeships can take between 3 and 5 years to complete.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
Work your way up
You could start your career as a laboratory technician, then do further training on the job to qualify as a chemist.
Registration and professional bodies
Career tips
Laboratory experience would be useful for this career.
Professional and industry bodies
Some degrees and apprenticeships may allow you to apply for registered Scientist or Chartered Chemist status.
You can find out more from:
your university or training provider
the Science Council
Royal Society of Chemistry
Further information
You can get more careers advice about becoming a chemist from A Future in Chemistry.
Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for chemist. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
The work
ONS · ESCO · O*NET
Typical tasks
develops experimental procedures, instruments and recording and testing systems
operates specialised scientific equipment and conducts experiments to identify chemical composition, energy and chemical changes in natural substances and processed materials
analyses results and experimental data
tests techniques and processes for reliability under a variety of conditions
develops procedures for quality control of manufactured products
Skills
document analysis results
use a computer
develop new food products
advise on fragrances
analyse chemical substances
apply liquid chromatography
apply safety procedures in laboratory
apply scientific methods
calibrate laboratory equipment
develop chemical products
manage chemical testing procedures
perform sensory evaluation
prepare chemical samples
prepare raw materials
Knowledge
analytical chemistry
toxicology
allergology
chemistry
combination of flavours
food flavourings
inorganic chemistry
laboratory techniques
Suits people who like
Working with ideas and solving problems
Practical, hands-on work
Outlook
DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for science, research, engineering and technology professionals, a group of 28 jobs that includes chemists.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↑ 18%about 394,000 more jobs
Workers needed by 20351.3 millionincluding people replacing those who retire or leave
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.
This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.
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