Career comparison
Chemical Technician vs. Chemistry Professor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Chemistry professors earn more at the median ($93,250 vs. $60,390), while chemical technicians usually get to work faster (2 years of training). Chemical technicians run chemical tests and experiments that support research and production. Chemistry professors teach chemistry lectures and labs and lead chemical research.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Chemical Technician | Chemistry Professor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $60,390 ($29.03/hr) | $93,250 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $41,740 – $92,040 | $57,870 – $172,110 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +4.9% (about as fast as average) | +2.3% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 7,600 | 1,700 |
| Typical entry education | Associate's degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 2 years | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | ACS-approved chemical technology degree | Ph.D. in chemistry |
| Work setting | Chemical technicians work in labs and production plants, wearing protective equipment around chemicals.. | Chemistry faculty work in classrooms, teaching labs and research labs.. |
What each job does
Chemical Technician
- Prepare samples and solutions
- Run chemical tests
- Operate lab instruments
- Monitor production quality
- Record and analyze data
Chemistry Professor
- Teach chemistry lectures
- Design and supervise labs
- Train students on instruments
- Lead a research group
- Write grants
How they’re similar
Both careers involve indoor work and hands-on work. They sit in different fields, science, engineering & lab and education & childcare, but share transferable skills such as attention to detail and clear explanation.
Which should you choose?
Choose chemical technician if…
- I enjoy chemistry
- I’m careful and precise
- I like lab instruments
Choose chemistry professor if…
- I love chemistry
- I like lab work
- I enjoy teaching
Still torn? Take the Chemical Technician fit quiz and the Chemistry Professor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, chemical technician or chemistry professor?
Chemistry Professors earn more at the median: $93,250 versus $60,390 for chemical technicians, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Chemical Technicians typically train faster (2 years) than chemistry professors (5–7 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects chemical technicians to grow +4.9% from 2025–35, compared with +2.3% for chemistry professors.