Career comparison
Chemist 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. $91,240), while chemists usually get to work faster (4+ years of training). Chemists study substances and create new materials, medicines and products. 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
| Chemist | Chemistry Professor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $91,240 ($43.87/hr) | $93,250 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $58,460 – $160,830 | $57,870 – $172,110 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +6.4% (faster than average) | +2.3% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 5,900 | 1,700 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 4+ years | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | ACS-certified degree | Ph.D. in chemistry |
| Work setting | Chemists work in labs and offices in industry, government and universities.. | Chemistry faculty work in classrooms, teaching labs and research labs.. |
What each job does
Chemist
- Design and run experiments
- Analyze substances with instruments
- Develop new products and processes
- Interpret data
- Write reports and procedures
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, problem-solving, high-pay, and hands-on work. They sit in different fields, science, engineering & lab and education & childcare, but share transferable skills such as critical thinking and clear explanation.
Which should you choose?
Choose chemist if…
- I love chemistry
- I enjoy experiments
- I like solving puzzles
Choose chemistry professor if…
- I love chemistry
- I like lab work
- I enjoy teaching
Still torn? Take the Chemist fit quiz and the Chemistry Professor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, chemist or chemistry professor?
Chemistry Professors earn more at the median: $93,250 versus $91,240 for chemists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Chemists typically train faster (4+ years) than chemistry professors (5–7 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects chemists to grow +6.4% from 2025–35, compared with +2.3% for chemistry professors.