Chemists
SOC Code: 19-2031 Job Zone 4: Considerable Preparation Needed
Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Chemists. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $95,181 | $119,184 | $143,208 | $167,211 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $92,539 | $117,125 | $141,690 | $166,275 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $61,568 | $95,638 | $129,730 | $163,800 |
| Las Cruces, NM | $61,506 | $95,222 | $128,960 | $162,677 |
| Farmington, NM | $61,776 | $95,389 | $129,002 | $162,614 |
| Santa Fe, NM | $61,131 | $94,806 | $128,482 | $162,157 |
| Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $61,173 | $94,432 | $127,691 | $160,950 |
| Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $60,944 | $93,766 | $126,610 | $159,432 |
| Huntsville, AL | $87,381 | $108,888 | $130,416 | $151,923 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $82,950 | $105,851 | $128,773 | $151,674 |
H-1B Filing Data
Top H-1B Employers
| Employer | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Eli Lilly and Company | 79 | $132,036 |
| NOVITIUM PHARMA LLC. | 75 | $76,890 |
| Amgen Inc. | 61 | $127,308 |
| Frontage Laboratories, Inc. | 61 | $85,633 |
| PPD Development, L.P. | 60 | $76,719 |
| RK PHARMA INC | 55 | $69,779 |
| THE TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY | 55 | $66,842 |
| Bristol-Myers Squibb Company | 54 | $137,972 |
| Battelle Memorial Institute | 54 | $127,384 |
| UT-BATTELLE, LLC (OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY) | 54 | $96,101 |
Filing Trend
| Year | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 361 | $77,330 |
| 2021 | 413 | $85,319 |
| 2022 | 318 | $89,937 |
| 2023 | 1,051 | $90,282 |
| 2024 | 1,836 | $438,353 |
| 2025 | 2,158 | $616,400 |
| 2026 | 237 | $103,656 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Science | 4.1 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 | |
| Speaking | 3.9 | |
| Mathematics | 3.8 | |
| Active Listening | 3.8 | |
| Writing | 3.8 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 | |
| Active Learning | 3.6 | |
| Monitoring | 3.5 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Chemistry | 4.9 |
| English Language | 4.0 |
| Mathematics | 3.8 |
| Production and Processing | 3.5 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.4 |
| Administration and Management | 3.4 |
| Administrative | 3.3 |
| Physics | 3.1 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 55.9% |
| Post-first professional | 30.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 9.9% |
| Master's degree | 4.2% |
Typical Tasks
- Analyze organic or inorganic compounds to determine chemical or physical properties, composition, structure, relationships, or reactions, using chromatography, spectroscopy, or spectrophotometry techniques.
- Develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods.
- Compile and analyze test information to determine process or equipment operating efficiency or to diagnose malfunctions.
- Confer with scientists or engineers to conduct analyses of research projects, interpret test results, or develop nonstandard tests.
- Direct, coordinate, or advise personnel in test procedures for analyzing components or physical properties of materials.
- Induce changes in composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy, or chemical catalysts for quantitative or qualitative analysis.
- Write technical papers or reports or prepare standards and specifications for processes, facilities, products, or tests.
- Prepare test solutions, compounds, or reagents for laboratory personnel to conduct tests.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
C C++ Extensible markup language XML Hypertext markup language HTML Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Visio Microsoft Visual Basic Microsoft Word Oracle Java R SAP software Structured query language SQL
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