The information on this page is designed to help you explore possible careers. Use the links below to navigate to different areas of the page. We recommend working with a career counselor to help you identify careers based on your skills, interests, and values.
Resources with Ideas for Careers and/or Places of Employment
List of Employers and Job Titles Developed from Job Postings in PSU Handshake for Chemistry Majors
Chemistry majors may find employment in a variety of areas depending on their skills and experience. Places of employment for chemists include industry (pharmaceutical, chemical, food manufacturing); environmental testing and research laboratories; biotechnology firms; federal, state, and local government agencies; and educational institutions. Career-related internships or career-related part-time jobs may be a prerequisite to finding professional-level employment after graduation.
The following list of employers and job titles was derived from the University Career Centers's jobs database where the employer specifically requested chemistry majors. This list does not reflect all potential places of employment or kinds of jobs for chemistry majors. This list does not reflect current openings.
- AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc. — Environmental Chemist/Data Management, Site Assessor/Field Scientist - Entry Level
- Anderson Hay and Grain — Endophyte Samplers
- Applied Materials — Lab Analyst I
- APTIV, Inc. — Laboratory Manager
- Armstrong World Industries, Inc. — Process Engineer
- Ash Grove Cement Company — Chemical Analyst
- Audubon Society of Portland — Environmental Educator
- Bainbridge Island School District — Chemistry Teacher
- Cascade Environmental Services, Inc. — Technical Report Writer
- Cascade Microtech, Inc. — Chemical Process Technician
- Cascadia Community College — Chemistry Faculty
- CH2M — Associate Water Scientist
- ChemPoint.com — Industry Representative
- City of Hillsboro — Water Distribution Operator IV, Water Treatment Plant Lab Technician, Water Resources Technician
- City of Lebanon — Environmental Specialist
- City of Portland — Water Treatment Operator II
- City of Salem — Hazardous Materials Program Manager, Water Treatment Plant Operator, Principal Planner
- City of Tigard — Water Quality Program Coordinator/Volunteer Coordinator (Storm Water emphasis)
- Clackamas County — Laboratory Analyst
- Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Oregon — Production Quality Assurance Tech
- Cordev — Laboratory Technician
- Cowlitz County — Environmental Health Specialist 1-2
- Environmental Services Laboratory — Sample Receiving
- Exelixis — Research Assistant
- FEI — Manufacturing Technician
- Health Wright Products — Quality Assurance Technician
- Hearthside Food Soluntions — Research & Development Technologist
- HSBC USA — Customer Information Management Analyst
- ICD High Performance Coatings — Chemist
- Intel Corporation — Semiconductor Manufacturing Technicians
- Kraft Foods, Inc. — Quality Systems Supervisor
- Lake Oswego School District — Chemistry Teacher
- Lattice Semiconductor Corporation — Assembly Engineer I
- Marion Soil and Water Conservation District — Conservation Outreach Technician
- Micron Technology, Inc. — FAB Engineer
- Momentive Performance Materials — Construction Account Manager
- Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) — Science Lab Coordinator
- National Pesticide Information Center — Faculty Research Assistant
- Nike, Inc. — Senior Lab Technician
- Open Meadow Alternative Schools — High School Science Teacher/Advocate
- Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) — Natural Resource Specialist 4 - Environmental Toxicologist, Chemist 1 - Inorganic Chemist, Chemist 1 - Organic Chemist, Spill Prevention and Preparedness Coordinator, Water Quality Standards Specialist
- Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) — Laboratory Aide, Clinical Trials Research Coordinator
- Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) — Lead Educator-Chemistry Lab
- Oregon State University (OSU) — Research Associate - Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty Research Assistant
- PED Manufacturing, Ltd. — Process Engineer/Investing & Wax
- Pendleton Woolen Mills — Chemist
- Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) — Laboratory Technician, Research Assistant
- Proteome Software, Inc. — Bio-informatics
- Puget Sound Naval Shipyard — Health Physicist, Physical Science Technician
- SAIF Corporation — Industrial Hygiene Technician
- Schreiber Foods, Inc. — Production Team Advisor
- Schrodinger, Inc. — Technical/Marketing Writer, Licensing Associate
- Secure Materials, LLC — Chemical Laboratory Technician
- Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe — Chemist
- SiC Processing USA — Lab Technician
- Sony Disc Manufacturing — Environmental & Safety Engineer
- Southwest Research Institute (SWRI) — Analyst II-1 GC Operator, Team Leader II-2 Air Monitoring/Chemica, Lead Chemist-1 Analytical Laboratory
- St. Mary's Academy — Chemistry Teacher
- TCI America — Production Chemist
- URS Corporation — Graduate Database Specialist
- US Customs and Border Protection — Agriculture Specialist
- US Department of the Interior — Physical Science
- US Fish and Wildlife Service — Fish and Wildlife Biologist
- US Forest Service — Geographic Information Systems Specialist
- USDA Forest Service — Forest & Biological Science Technicians
- WaferTech — Quality Control Chemical Lab Technician, Chemical Analysis Lab Intern
- Washington County — Wastermaster
- Western Biochemical Consulting, Inc. — Agricultural Research/Field Survey Assistant
- Wy'East Environmental Sciences, Inc. — Chemical Laboratory Technician, Analytical Chemist
- Xerox Corporation — Process Development Engineer, Quality Control Lab Technicians, Chemist
- Yamhill County — Environmental Health Specialist II - Registered Sanitarian
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Careers Reported by Chemistry Majors on the American Community Survey
The following list of job titles was generated from American Community Survey data. Every year, the federal government surveys 3,000,000 people. This list shows some of the most-often reported careers for people who majored in chemistry.
Please be aware that additional education, internships, or career-related experience may be a prerequisite to some of the careers on this list. Advising & Career Services provides this list as a tool for generating ideas for exploration. To find a brief description of the following occupations, go the the Standard Occupational Classification system.
- Physicians and Surgeons
- Postsecondary Teachers
- Chemists and Materials Scientists
- Managers
- Physical Scientists
- Elementary and Middle School Teachers
- Medical and Life Scientists
- Dentists
- Secondary School Teachers
- Pharmacists
- Management Analysts
- Chief Executives and Legislators
- Lawyers and Judges
- Software Developers, Applications and Systems Software
- Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing
- Chemical Technicians
- Accountants and Auditors
- Medical and Health Services Managers
- Education Administrators
- Marketing and Sales Managers
- Industrial Production Managers
- Registered Nurses
- Computer Systems Analysts
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
- Computer Programmers
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Government Classification Specifications
Classification Specifications are generic descriptions of jobs in government agencies. Generally, they provide an overview of the job and describe essential duties and responsibilities as well as requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) and educational requirements. Classification specifications can be useful in identifying organizations that hire people with an academic background in chemistry. Please be aware that internships or other career-related experience may be a prerequisite to finding professional-level employment after graduation. Career Services provides this list as a tool for generating ideas for exploration.
State of Oregon Classification Specifications
Washington County Classification Specifications
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Vocational Biographies
Vocational Biographies describes the the career success stories of 1001 real people. Search by career title, keyword, topic, and career cluster. Username: portlandsu and password: 3W9N
- Chemical Engineer
- Pharmacist
- Cell Research Chemist
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Professional Associations
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Sites with Career-Related Information for Chemistry Majors
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