Bo_2Q
02-01-2009, 03:42 PM
All physical things, whether occurring naturally or artificially, are composed of chemicals. Chemists in basic research and development investigate the properties, composition, and structure of matter and the laws that govern the combination of elements and reactions of substances. In applied work, chemists create new products and processes, or they improve existing ones, such as plastics. In manufacturing, chemists specify the ingredients,mixing times, and temperatures for each stage in a production process. They monitor automated processes in the production of paint, and they conduct tests to assure that products meet prescribed standards. Chemists often specialize in a subfield. Analytical chemists determine the structure, composition, and nature of substances, and they develop analytical techniques. For example, they identify the presence and concentration of chemical pollutants in air, water, and soil. Organic chemists study the chemistry of the vast number of carbon compounds. They have developed many commercial products, such as drugs and plastics. Inorganic chemists study compounds consisting
mainly of elements other than carbon, such as those in electronics components. Physical chemists study the physical characteristics of atoms and molecules and investigate how chemical reactions work. Their research may result in new and better energy sources. A chemistry curriculum includes biology, mathematics, and physics courses, as well as analytical, organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry. Computer skills that enable modeling and simulations are necessary to operate the computerized laboratory equipment. Scientific, mathematical, and analytical thinking are critical abilities for chemists. Also, technical and manual skills are required to work in labs and with laboratory equipment. Because chemists often work on interdisciplinary teams, understanding the language and terminology of
other disciplines is essential, and so is having knowledge of business, marketing, and economics. Leadership ability is important in situations that require chemists to supervise other staff. Good oral and written communication is necessary for report writing. Beyond enjoying science and mathematics, chemists must like to work with their hands while building apparatus and performing scientific experiments. They enjoy mental challenges, working independently, and the satisfaction of developing practical solutions. Outcomes are achieved by perseverance, curiosity, and the ability to concentrate on detail. Chemists value intellectual stimulation, where they expend a considerable amount of thought and reasoning. They search for new facts and ways to apply them. The use of mathematics is an integral part of this research. Chemists view themselves as creative in their work. The prestige of the field is a motivational force. The work and projects they are given are varied. Chemists expect to be paid well.
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/1508/table1ig0.jpg
Chemists are serious and committed people. They are steadfast in their thinking. They often initiate projects independently and stay with them until completion. They have personal motivation, they can concentrate and follow
logic, and they are thorough. Chemists enjoy being original in their pursuits, and they take pride in calling on their personal wealth of knowledge to solve problems.
Where Do Chemistry Majors Work?
Slightly less than 65 percent of persons who hold a bachelor’s degree in chemistry work for private, for-profit businesses. About 1 out of 10 are self-employed as consultants to other organizations or as independent business owners. Chemistry majors also work in educational institutions and in the government. The educational sector employs 12 percent of chemistry majors, and another 11 percent work in the government. Few chemistry majors are employed in nonprofit charities or research foundations. The earnings of chemistry majors working in the private sector are much higher than those employed in education, government, or nonprofit organizations.
Occupations
Graduates of chemistry programs at the undergraduate level are generally employed in jobs that are connected to the major field of study. More than 70 percent work in jobs related to chemistry, and the majority of these persons view
their current job as closely related to the field of chemistry. About one-quarter of all persons who earn a degree in chemistry are employed as chemists. However, most of those who are not employed as chemists do not work in a scientific occupation. Approximately 1 in 6 chemistry majors work in high-level managerial and administrative positions that are often related in some degree to the undergraduate field of study. Some chemistry majors are employed in engineering occupations, including chemical engineering. Nearly 30 percent of chemistry majors work in jobs unrelated to their undergraduate majors. Most often these individuals work in jobs outside of their major because of changes in their career aspirations. Those employed in jobs unrelated to the major have annual salaries that are close to the salaries in jobs related to chemistry.
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/7251/table2tf9.png
One-quarter of men with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry work in the chemist occupation; only one-fifth of women with chemistry degrees are employed in the chemist occupation. Men are much more likely to become employed as managers and administrators than are women with a degree in chemistry. Men are more than two and one-half times more likely to be employed in high-level management positions than their female counterparts. Women with degrees in chemistry are spread out across a variety of occupations that are somewhat less connected to the chemistry major.
Activities on the Job
Basic research activities are an important part of the job duties of many graduates of chemistry programs. Unlike most other employed persons with only a bachelor’s degree, basic research is an important part of the work of chemistry program graduates. Employee supervision and overall managerial responsibilities are also key job duties of many chemistry degree holders. Substantial proportions of those who hold a degree in chemistry develop or
utilize computer applications on the job.
Salaries
The annual salaries of persons with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry are well above the salaries of the average college graduate. The annual salary averages $61,600 per year, about 14 percent more per year than the $54,200 earned by the average bachelor’s degree holder in 2002-dollar terms. Annual salaries for young chemistry majors are quite high. Those between the ages of 25 and 29 earn $48,100 per year, a rate of pay well above that of other young bachelor’s degree holders. Over time, the earnings of chemistry graduates increase. The skills and knowledge
developed as a result of years of work experience result in higher productivity and higher wages as chemistry majors age. By the ages of 50 to 54, the average annual salary of a person with only a chemistry degree rises to $71,400. Chemistry graduates who work as employees of private, for-profit corporations have annual salaries of $64,900.
Those employed by educational institutions earn much less. Their annual salaries average only $41,800.
Graduates employed in jobs that are closely related to the field of study have no earnings advantage compared
to those who work in jobs that are unrelated to the field. The annual salary of persons with a degree in
chemistry varies considerably by the occupation in which they work. Majors who proceed to managerial and administrative positions earn more than $81,800 per year, well above the average rate of pay for chemistry majors employed full-time. Those employed as chemists have annual salaries of $56,400 per year. Those employed in occupations that are not closely related to the field also have relatively high salaries. The earnings of persons with a degree in chemistry who work in insurance, real estate, and securities sales are more than $74,700 per year.
Chemistry majors who are employed as biological scientists or in health technology fields have earnings that are well below the average for the major.
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/5888/table3kl6.jpg
On-the-Job Training
The career potential of a job is closely associated with the amount of work-related training on the job. Work-related training is regarded as an investment by firms because it makes workers more productive. Firms that invest in their workforce are more likely to offer pay increases and promotions to match the increasing productivity of their workers. Firms that do not invest in their workers are relatively less likely to offer pay increases and promotions. The incidence of work-related training among chemistry graduates is lower than the participation rate in work-related training among all college graduates. While 68 percent of all college graduates acquire some kind of work related training during a year, fewer than two-thirds of all chemistry majors participate in workshops or seminars that are designed to improve their work-based skills. Chemistry majors are less likely than the average college graduate to engage in professional training activities over the course of the year. Persons employed in private,
for-profit firms are considerably more likely to participate in work-based training than those who work in education or who are self-employed.
◗ More than three-quarters of those who
participate in training are developing
additional professional skills related to
the job in which they are employed.
◗ Nearly 40 percent receive training
in employee supervision or related
management-skills areas.
◗ Few chemistry majors participate in
training to maintain an occupational
license or certification. Often employers
require or expect staff to participate in
training to develop their skills. However,
many see training as an opportunity
to advance their careers.
Post-Graduation Activities
Relatively high proportions of chemistry majors continue their formal education after college and earn an advanced degree of some type. Only 44 percent of chemistry graduates do not earn an advanced degree; 56 percent of those who earn a bachelor’s degree in chemistry eventually earn a graduate or professional degree. A very high fraction of those with an undergraduate degree in chemistry earn doctoral or professional degrees (usually in medicine); more than one-third of all chemistry majors earn a doctorate or a medical doctor’s degree.
◗ One out of 3 degree holders who earn a
master’s degree continues their studies in
chemistry. One-fifth earn their master’s
degree in business, and an additional 10
percent earn their master’s degree in
education. About 10 percent branch out
into health and biological sciences at the
master’s degree level.
◗ Two-thirds of the doctoral degrees
earned are in the field of chemistry, and
an additional 20 percent are in biological
sciences.
◗ Few chemistry majors earn a professional
degree in law. More than 13 percent of
all persons who earn a bachelor’s degree
go on to complete a doctor of medicine
degree. Chemistry at the undergraduate
level is an important pathway to the
study of medicine.
About 83 percent of persons with only a
bachelor’s degree are employed, most in fulltime
positions. About 3 out of 100 chemistry
degree holders are officially unemployed; that
is, they are not employed and are actively seeking
work. Most unemployed chemistry majors
decided that they did not want to work. A
substantial proportion have taken early
retirement,while others remain at home to meetfamily responsibilities.
Employment Outlook
Overall demand for college graduates is expected to increase at a relatively rapid pace (22.2 percent) between 2000 and 2010. The demand for chemists is expected to grow by 18 percent over the projections period, a rate of growth that is slower than the demand for all college graduates but faster than the rate of growth of overall employment in the U.S. economy (15.2 percent). Management and sales occupations that employ a substantial share of college graduates with degrees in chemistry are expected to grow at a rate that is faster than the overall projected growth in employment but slower than the average rate of growth of employment for those with a bachelor’s degree.
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/945/table4pw1.jpg
mainly of elements other than carbon, such as those in electronics components. Physical chemists study the physical characteristics of atoms and molecules and investigate how chemical reactions work. Their research may result in new and better energy sources. A chemistry curriculum includes biology, mathematics, and physics courses, as well as analytical, organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry. Computer skills that enable modeling and simulations are necessary to operate the computerized laboratory equipment. Scientific, mathematical, and analytical thinking are critical abilities for chemists. Also, technical and manual skills are required to work in labs and with laboratory equipment. Because chemists often work on interdisciplinary teams, understanding the language and terminology of
other disciplines is essential, and so is having knowledge of business, marketing, and economics. Leadership ability is important in situations that require chemists to supervise other staff. Good oral and written communication is necessary for report writing. Beyond enjoying science and mathematics, chemists must like to work with their hands while building apparatus and performing scientific experiments. They enjoy mental challenges, working independently, and the satisfaction of developing practical solutions. Outcomes are achieved by perseverance, curiosity, and the ability to concentrate on detail. Chemists value intellectual stimulation, where they expend a considerable amount of thought and reasoning. They search for new facts and ways to apply them. The use of mathematics is an integral part of this research. Chemists view themselves as creative in their work. The prestige of the field is a motivational force. The work and projects they are given are varied. Chemists expect to be paid well.
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/1508/table1ig0.jpg
Chemists are serious and committed people. They are steadfast in their thinking. They often initiate projects independently and stay with them until completion. They have personal motivation, they can concentrate and follow
logic, and they are thorough. Chemists enjoy being original in their pursuits, and they take pride in calling on their personal wealth of knowledge to solve problems.
Where Do Chemistry Majors Work?
Slightly less than 65 percent of persons who hold a bachelor’s degree in chemistry work for private, for-profit businesses. About 1 out of 10 are self-employed as consultants to other organizations or as independent business owners. Chemistry majors also work in educational institutions and in the government. The educational sector employs 12 percent of chemistry majors, and another 11 percent work in the government. Few chemistry majors are employed in nonprofit charities or research foundations. The earnings of chemistry majors working in the private sector are much higher than those employed in education, government, or nonprofit organizations.
Occupations
Graduates of chemistry programs at the undergraduate level are generally employed in jobs that are connected to the major field of study. More than 70 percent work in jobs related to chemistry, and the majority of these persons view
their current job as closely related to the field of chemistry. About one-quarter of all persons who earn a degree in chemistry are employed as chemists. However, most of those who are not employed as chemists do not work in a scientific occupation. Approximately 1 in 6 chemistry majors work in high-level managerial and administrative positions that are often related in some degree to the undergraduate field of study. Some chemistry majors are employed in engineering occupations, including chemical engineering. Nearly 30 percent of chemistry majors work in jobs unrelated to their undergraduate majors. Most often these individuals work in jobs outside of their major because of changes in their career aspirations. Those employed in jobs unrelated to the major have annual salaries that are close to the salaries in jobs related to chemistry.
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/7251/table2tf9.png
One-quarter of men with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry work in the chemist occupation; only one-fifth of women with chemistry degrees are employed in the chemist occupation. Men are much more likely to become employed as managers and administrators than are women with a degree in chemistry. Men are more than two and one-half times more likely to be employed in high-level management positions than their female counterparts. Women with degrees in chemistry are spread out across a variety of occupations that are somewhat less connected to the chemistry major.
Activities on the Job
Basic research activities are an important part of the job duties of many graduates of chemistry programs. Unlike most other employed persons with only a bachelor’s degree, basic research is an important part of the work of chemistry program graduates. Employee supervision and overall managerial responsibilities are also key job duties of many chemistry degree holders. Substantial proportions of those who hold a degree in chemistry develop or
utilize computer applications on the job.
Salaries
The annual salaries of persons with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry are well above the salaries of the average college graduate. The annual salary averages $61,600 per year, about 14 percent more per year than the $54,200 earned by the average bachelor’s degree holder in 2002-dollar terms. Annual salaries for young chemistry majors are quite high. Those between the ages of 25 and 29 earn $48,100 per year, a rate of pay well above that of other young bachelor’s degree holders. Over time, the earnings of chemistry graduates increase. The skills and knowledge
developed as a result of years of work experience result in higher productivity and higher wages as chemistry majors age. By the ages of 50 to 54, the average annual salary of a person with only a chemistry degree rises to $71,400. Chemistry graduates who work as employees of private, for-profit corporations have annual salaries of $64,900.
Those employed by educational institutions earn much less. Their annual salaries average only $41,800.
Graduates employed in jobs that are closely related to the field of study have no earnings advantage compared
to those who work in jobs that are unrelated to the field. The annual salary of persons with a degree in
chemistry varies considerably by the occupation in which they work. Majors who proceed to managerial and administrative positions earn more than $81,800 per year, well above the average rate of pay for chemistry majors employed full-time. Those employed as chemists have annual salaries of $56,400 per year. Those employed in occupations that are not closely related to the field also have relatively high salaries. The earnings of persons with a degree in chemistry who work in insurance, real estate, and securities sales are more than $74,700 per year.
Chemistry majors who are employed as biological scientists or in health technology fields have earnings that are well below the average for the major.
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/5888/table3kl6.jpg
On-the-Job Training
The career potential of a job is closely associated with the amount of work-related training on the job. Work-related training is regarded as an investment by firms because it makes workers more productive. Firms that invest in their workforce are more likely to offer pay increases and promotions to match the increasing productivity of their workers. Firms that do not invest in their workers are relatively less likely to offer pay increases and promotions. The incidence of work-related training among chemistry graduates is lower than the participation rate in work-related training among all college graduates. While 68 percent of all college graduates acquire some kind of work related training during a year, fewer than two-thirds of all chemistry majors participate in workshops or seminars that are designed to improve their work-based skills. Chemistry majors are less likely than the average college graduate to engage in professional training activities over the course of the year. Persons employed in private,
for-profit firms are considerably more likely to participate in work-based training than those who work in education or who are self-employed.
◗ More than three-quarters of those who
participate in training are developing
additional professional skills related to
the job in which they are employed.
◗ Nearly 40 percent receive training
in employee supervision or related
management-skills areas.
◗ Few chemistry majors participate in
training to maintain an occupational
license or certification. Often employers
require or expect staff to participate in
training to develop their skills. However,
many see training as an opportunity
to advance their careers.
Post-Graduation Activities
Relatively high proportions of chemistry majors continue their formal education after college and earn an advanced degree of some type. Only 44 percent of chemistry graduates do not earn an advanced degree; 56 percent of those who earn a bachelor’s degree in chemistry eventually earn a graduate or professional degree. A very high fraction of those with an undergraduate degree in chemistry earn doctoral or professional degrees (usually in medicine); more than one-third of all chemistry majors earn a doctorate or a medical doctor’s degree.
◗ One out of 3 degree holders who earn a
master’s degree continues their studies in
chemistry. One-fifth earn their master’s
degree in business, and an additional 10
percent earn their master’s degree in
education. About 10 percent branch out
into health and biological sciences at the
master’s degree level.
◗ Two-thirds of the doctoral degrees
earned are in the field of chemistry, and
an additional 20 percent are in biological
sciences.
◗ Few chemistry majors earn a professional
degree in law. More than 13 percent of
all persons who earn a bachelor’s degree
go on to complete a doctor of medicine
degree. Chemistry at the undergraduate
level is an important pathway to the
study of medicine.
About 83 percent of persons with only a
bachelor’s degree are employed, most in fulltime
positions. About 3 out of 100 chemistry
degree holders are officially unemployed; that
is, they are not employed and are actively seeking
work. Most unemployed chemistry majors
decided that they did not want to work. A
substantial proportion have taken early
retirement,while others remain at home to meetfamily responsibilities.
Employment Outlook
Overall demand for college graduates is expected to increase at a relatively rapid pace (22.2 percent) between 2000 and 2010. The demand for chemists is expected to grow by 18 percent over the projections period, a rate of growth that is slower than the demand for all college graduates but faster than the rate of growth of overall employment in the U.S. economy (15.2 percent). Management and sales occupations that employ a substantial share of college graduates with degrees in chemistry are expected to grow at a rate that is faster than the overall projected growth in employment but slower than the average rate of growth of employment for those with a bachelor’s degree.
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/945/table4pw1.jpg