Chemistry
Quick Facts: Chemistry Training
Where it's offered
Chemistry programs are offered at 1 schools across 1 states. Most students attend a school within driving distance of home — use the state picker below to see programs near you.
Earnings expectations
Graduates earn approximately $29,339/year on average one year after completion, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. Pay scales with experience, certifications, and regional cost-of-living.
Apprenticeship pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 8 registered apprenticeship pathways related to Chemistry — earn-while-you-learn alternatives to traditional schooling. See apprenticeship.gov for the federal registry.
Program quality benchmark
Across the 1 schools we analyze, the average TradeSchoolOutlook Score is 45/100. Higher-scoring programs combine strong graduate earnings, manageable cost, and strong job-market demand — see the leaderboard further down for the highest-rated options.
What Chemistry Graduates Do
Your chemistry training can place you at a lab bench or behind a computer screen. You might start your career as a chemical technician, wearing a lab coat and safety glasses while you precisely measure reagents and run analyses on instruments like a gas chromatograph. Or, you could jump into a high-growth data science role, using programming languages like Python to analyze experimental outcomes or build predictive models for a manufacturing process.
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With a few years of experience, you’ll move from executing tasks to designing projects. A technician can become a chemist, leading research and interpreting complex results, while a junior analyst can become a data scientist developing algorithms that guide major decisions. This experience unlocks significant earning potential, as you can advance to become a senior chemist or a natural sciences manager leading a lab. While AI will increasingly assist with data analysis and modeling, the hands-on work of handling materials and the critical thinking needed to solve unexpected problems in the lab remain firmly in your hands.
Students considering Chemistry also weigh Statistics, Sustainability Studies, and Biology — see each trade's earnings and school count side by side.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 8 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Chemistry. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.
| Apprenticeship | Training Hours | Type | Salary RangeSalary | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Chemical Engineering Technician
RAPIDS 969 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $47K – $57,790 – $73K | 3.7% |
|
Chemical Laboratory Technician
RAPIDS 50 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $47K – $57,790 – $73K | 3.7% |
|
Chemistry Quality Control Technician
RAPIDS 1134HY |
2000-3000 hrs | Hybrid | $47K – $57,790 – $73K | 3.7% |
|
Crime Scene Technician
RAPIDS 1113CB |
Competency | Competency | $53K – $67,440 – $89K | 12.8% |
|
Data Scientist
RAPIDS 2079CB |
Competency | Competency | $83K – $112,590 – $156K | 33.5% |
|
Environmental Analyst
RAPIDS 648 |
7000 hrs
~3.5 yrs |
Time | $62K – $80,060 – $104K | 4.4% |
|
Laboratory Technician
RAPIDS 268 |
2000 hrs
~1.0 yrs |
Time | $47K – $57,790 – $73K | 3.7% |
|
Laboratory Tester
RAPIDS 269 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $47K – $57,790 – $73K | 3.7% |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.
Find Chemistry Programs in Your State
Trade and community college programs are local decisions — most students pick a school within driving distance. Chemistry is offered at 1 schools across 1 states. Click your state to see all trade programs offered locally.
Top Chemistry Programs Nationally
For context, here are the highest-scoring Chemistry programs in the country. Most students attend a school within 60 miles of home, so your state list above is usually more actionable — but these are the benchmarks others compete against.
1 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and career analysis.
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Niagara County Community College Sanborn, NY |
55 51–57 |
Highest Earning Chemistry Programs
Schools where Chemistry graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Niagara County Community College | $29,339/yr | 55 |
Best ROI for Chemistry
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Chemistry.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Niagara County Community College | 42.6x | $29,339/yr | 55 |
Related Majors
Explore similar fields of study.
Considering a 4-Year Degree?
Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Chemistry degree programs stack up on earnings and ROI.