Headline risk
8%
Low RiskChemists
AI displacement pressure score for United States AI Work Index, combining global AI task overlap with local wages, employment trends, and demand signals.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge.
Task evidence
100% weighted task match · 15% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 84,150
Employment 2024
86.8K
Projected Change (2024–34)
4.9%
Openings (2024–34)
6.3K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Overall employment of chemists and materials scientists is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods. AI use: 0%
- 2. Write technical papers or reports or prepare standards and specifications for processes, facilities, products, or tests. AI use: 0%
- 3. Maintain laboratory instruments to ensure proper working order and troubleshoot malfunctions when needed. AI use: 0%
- 4. Analyze organic or inorganic compounds to determine chemical or physical properties, composition, structure, relationships, or reactions, using chromatography, spectroscopy, or spectrophotometry techniques. AI use: 93%
- 5. Confer with scientists or engineers to conduct analyses of research projects, interpret test results, or develop nonstandard tests. AI use: 77%
- 6. Conduct quality control tests. AI use: 0%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Worker profile
Median age 39.8 · 106K employed
Under 25: 8% · 25–54: 71% · 55+: 22%
Related
No direct US role match is available yet for this occupation.
Source coverage
11/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Data quality
Employment data available
Narrative & sources
Chemists and materials scientists research and analyze the chemical properties of substances to develop new materials, products, or knowledge.
Chemists and materials scientists work in laboratories, offices, and manufacturing facilities. Most work full time.
To enter the occupation, chemists and materials scientists typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in chemistry or a related field. However, they may need a master’s degree or Ph.D. for some jobs, such as research positions.
The median annual wage for chemists was $84,150 in May 2024.
Overall employment of chemists and materials scientists is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
Important context
This score measures structural AI displacement pressure, not actual job losses. Local wages and demand data are specific to United States AI Work Index; the underlying AI task overlap analysis is consistent across all countries.