Career comparison
Chemist vs. Pharmacist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Pharmacists earn more at the median ($140,910 vs. $91,240), while chemists usually get to work faster (4+ years of training). Chemists study substances and create new materials, medicines and products. Pharmacists dispense medications safely and help patients use them correctly.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Chemist | Pharmacist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $91,240 ($43.87/hr) | $140,910 ($67.75/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $58,460 – $160,830 | $99,290 – $174,230 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +6.4% (faster than average) | +5.2% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 5,900 | 12,500 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 4+ years | 6–8 years |
| Key credential | ACS-certified degree | NAPLEX |
| Work setting | Chemists work in labs and offices in industry, government and universities.. | Pharmacists work in retail pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, mail-order pharmacies and industry.. |
What each job does
Chemist
- Design and run experiments
- Analyze substances with instruments
- Develop new products and processes
- Interpret data
- Write reports and procedures
Pharmacist
- Verify prescriptions for accuracy
- Check for drug interactions and allergies
- Counsel patients on medications
- Give vaccinations
- Advise prescribers on therapy
How they’re similar
Both careers involve indoor work, high-pay, and in-demand. They sit in different fields, science, engineering & lab and healthcare, but share transferable skills such as critical thinking and attention to detail.
Which should you choose?
Choose chemist if…
- I love chemistry
- I enjoy experiments
- I like solving puzzles
Choose pharmacist if…
- I love chemistry and biology
- I’m extremely detail-oriented
- I enjoy helping patients
Still torn? Take the Chemist fit quiz and the Pharmacist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, chemist or pharmacist?
Pharmacists earn more at the median: $140,910 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 pharmacists (6–8 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects chemists to grow +6.4% from 2025–35, compared with +5.2% for pharmacists.