Chemistry Degrees
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Salaries For Degrees in Chemistry
Graduates in Chemistry can work in a variety of occupations. It is impossible to say what you personally will do with a degree in Chemistry, our survey panel picked the following occupations as likely options:
- Chemists
- Chemical technicians
- Hydrologists
- Chemical engineers
- Soil and plant scientists
- Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers
- Food scientists and technologists
- Forensic science technicians
- Materials scientists
- Petroleum engineers (Best salary!)
- Geological and petroleum technicians
The median salary for people with a degree in Chemistry is $52,273.52. The lifetime value of this degree is approximately $1,234,027.00.
Salaries are highly dependent on individual negotiating skill, seniority in the field, policies at your employer, region, and more besides. The estimates we show on these pages are just that: estimates. Your individual experience will likely vary.
Where does this come from?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, a unit of the US government, classifies all workers into some 800-odd occupational categories. We paid a army of freelancers to get their opinion on what type of degree a holder of each type of job would likely have majored in. For pairs which had a high degree of consensus, we created a link between the degree and the job.
From this, we calculated the average salary for Chemistry degrees and converted it into a lifetime value. We then compared it against other degrees at the same level of schooling (such as associate's, bachelor's, or master's), so that you can make informed educational and employment decisions.
What do Chemistry Students Learn?
Everything from food to cosmetics to rocket ships is based on chemistry. This makes chemistry an excellent field of study with many opportunities for its graduates. Students that major in Chemistry will study matter. The course content starts off relatively simple and progresses in complexity through the duration of the program.
Most of the required courses have a laboratory section in which the student will apply the course content in hands-on experiments that help to demonstrate the concepts. These are commonly referred to as ‘Labs’. In the first year of study, the student will have General Chemistry I & II, with accompanying labs. This is an introduction to the elements and their properties, phases, acids and bases and energy.
In the second year, Organic Chemistry I & II are the courses studied. Organic Chemistry is the study of carbon based compounds. In Organic Chemistry, the student will learn the nomenclature of organic compounds and thoroughly study the structure of organic compounds. This will segue way into techniques to identify molecular compounds such as mass spectrometry, infrared spectrophotometry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. Finally, Organic Chemistry will conclude with an examination of reaction mechanisms.
The sequence of subsequent chemistry course requirements may vary. However, most, if not all programs will require the following six courses to complete the degree program. Biochemistry is the study of chemistry as it applies to biological systems. This covers metabolism and various other cycles that are a part of normal physical function. Instrumental Analysis explains the instrumentation commonly used in chemical analysis and how it works on a molecular level. Analytical Chemistry teaches the math used in chemical analysis. Inorganic Chemistry focuses on the properties and interactions of metals.
Lastly are probably the two most difficult courses, Physical Chemistry I & II. These courses are essentially about the physics of an atom and how it reacts to its environment. In Physical Chemistry I, the student will study the basis of Quantum Theory. In Physical Chemistry II, the focus is on Thermodynamics. Both sections of Physical Chemistry use calculus extensively. With the exception of Inorganic Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry, all of the mentioned courses have accompanying labs. In addition, Calculus I & II and Physics I & II will be pre-requisites. In general, the coursework required for a chemistry degree is challenging. The advantage is that chemistry is not an abundant degree out in the job market.
Schools Offering Accredited Online Chemistry Degree Programs
Chemistry programs are just beginning to show up in the online education arena. It would seem impossible to simulate all of the laboratory requirements virtually; however, one institution is offering online and virtual labs. Oregon State University offers an online Chemistry degree, complete with virtual labs. Otherwise, there are a number of schools offering an online degree in Chemistry, but the labs must be performed on campus. Even this may make a degree achievable for people that would not be able to earn a degree in the traditional format, since labs are typically held just once per week.
Regardless of the format, earning a degree in chemistry will be a challenging and rewarding experience. It is a versatile and very desirable academic background to have. 
Popular Colleges & Universities Offering Chemistry Courses
For on-campus programs, U.S. News ranks the top 3 Chemistry schools as California Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of California, Berkeley.
There are many career options for the individual holding a Chemistry degree. Most industries have a research and development component. Aside from the obvious fields such as pharmaceuticals and personal products, there are food companies, beverage companies, companies that develop household products, oil companies and water processing plants just to name a few that employ chemists.
Famous Students of Chemistry
Surprisingly, many well known people majored in chemistry. Some are known for their scientific valor, such as Marie Curie, Alfred Nobel, Louis Pasteur and Sir John Dalton. There are other chemistry majors that are famous for other accomplishments, such as Attorney General Janet Reno and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Chairman of PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi also earned a Bachelor’s in Chemistry. Actress Jennifer Garner was a chemistry and drama major.
