Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Chemist
What chemists actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a chemist?
Review overnight instrument runs. From there, the day usually includes design and run experiments, analyze substances with instruments, and develop new products and processes. Most work full-time during regular hours.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a chemist working full time.
- Review overnight instrument runs.
- Develop an HPLC method for a new product.
- Meet the formulation team.
- Investigate an out-of-spec result.
- Run NMR on a synthesized compound.
- Write a method validation report.
- Plan tomorrow’s experiments.
Where chemists work
Chemists work in labs and offices in industry, government and universities.
Hours and schedule
Most work full-time during regular hours.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Design and run experiments
- Analyze substances with instruments
- Develop new products and processes
- Interpret data
- Write reports and procedures
- Ensure quality and compliance
- Supervise technicians
Tools you’ll use every day
- HPLC and GC
- Mass spectrometers
- NMR
- FTIR
- LIMS
- Data analysis software
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Faster-than-average growth
- Strong pay
- Create real products
- Many industries
What’s hard
- Chemical hazards
- Advanced degrees for research
- Experiments often fail
- Regulatory paperwork
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I love chemistry
- I enjoy experiments
- I like solving puzzles
- I’m patient with failure
- I want to create products
- I’m willing to study for years
Not sure? Take the free Chemist fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Read SDS and assess hazards
- Use fume hoods and PPE
- Store chemicals properly
- Dispose of waste correctly