What Do Chemical Technicians Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Chemical Technicians conduct chemical and physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative and quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, and gaseous materials for research and development of new products or processes, quality control, maintenance of environmental standards, and other work involving experimental, theoretical, or practical application of chemistry and related sciences. They also compile and interpret results of tests and analyses.

Other tasks include:

• Conduct chemical or physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative or quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, or gaseous materials.
• Maintain, clean, or sterilize laboratory instruments or equipment.
• Set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses, using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, or microscopy.
• Monitor product quality to ensure compliance with standards and specifications.
• Prepare chemical solutions for products or processes, following standardized formulas, or create experimental formulas.
• Provide and maintain a safe work environment by participating in safety programs, committees, or teams and by conducting laboratory or plant safety audits.

We asked Chemical Technicians how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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56% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 47% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Chemical Technicians conduct chemical or physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative or quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, or gaseous materials. They maintain, clean, or sterilize laboratory instruments or equipment.

A typical day for a Chemical Technician will also include:

• Monitor product quality to ensure compliance with standards and specifications.
• Compile and interpret results of tests and analyses.
• Provide technical support or assistance to chemists or engineers.
• Prepare chemical solutions for products or processes, following standardized formulas, or create experimental formulas.
• Direct or monitor other workers producing chemical products.

We asked some Chemical Technicians a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	38% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	60% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	86% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	10% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	0% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	57% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Chemical Technicians also direct or monitor other workers producing chemical products. They may also order and inventory materials to maintain supplies.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Chemical Technicians Write technical reports or prepare graphs or charts to document experimental results. They might also Operate experimental pilot plants, assisting with experimental design.

In addition, they Prepare chemical solutions for products or processes, following standardized formulas, or create experimental formulas.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Provide and maintain a safe work environment by participating in safety programs, committees, or teams and by conducting laboratory or plant safety audits.

To some Chemical Technicians, it is also their responsibility to Develop new chemical engineering processes or production techniques.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Chemical Technician, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/life-physical-and-social-science/chemical-technicians.htm

http://www.aafs.org/

http://www.acs.org/