What Can You Do With a Degree in Chemistry?

There are many career paths in chemistry, including chemists, material scientists, chemical technicians, biochemists, and research, to name a few. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for chemists is expected to have a 6% employment increase between 2023 and 2031. According to the American Chemical Society, chemists enjoy good salaries (median of $105,000 in 2022) with low unemployment (0.6% in 2022).  Most career paths within the chemistry field require you to have a minimum degree of a bachelor’s. You develop skills and abilities that make you very marketable in a wide variety of jobs from teachers to food scientists.

Brooklyn College alumni with a degree in chemistry work as lab managers, dentists, doctors, and chemists, along with many more.

There is a lot of information available on LinkedIn, including profiles of more than 1,000 Brooklyn College alumni who graduated with a degree in chemistry. Join the Brooklyn College Alumni group and see where alumni are currently working, their skill sets, and their career progression. You can filter further based on employer, class year, etc.

Keep in mind, this list isn’t inclusive of all the opportunities available to chemistry students. Use the Magner Career Center resources to your advantage to find opportunities that align with your interests!

Elhadj Bah ’18

Health Educator
Seeds in the Middle
B.S. Chemistry

Susannah O’Shea ’18 M.A.

Chemistry Teacher
New York City Department of Education
M.A. Teaching

Anisha Zaman ’17

Dental Assistant
Habani Dental Office PC
B.S. Chemistry

There are a number of resources on campus that will help you learn more about chemistry career options. Attend events and keep current on the resources available to you.

Magner Career Center

The Magner Career Center has a wealth of information on everything you need to get started in your career, help with résumés, an internships database, job fairs, etc.

  • They host frequent career events that may be of interest to you, which include Careers in Science: Choosing Your Ideal Major: What Can You Do With It?, Show Me the Money: Paid Research and Internships, etc.
  • You can get matched with alumni who majored in chemistry at Brooklyn College to learn about their experiences, get career advice, and develop a professional relationship.
  • For more information or to set up appointments, visit the center’s website, call 718.951.5696, or visit 1303 James Hall.

Department of Chemistry Resources

  • The department supports the BC Chemistry Society, a student chapter of the American Chemical Society.
  • Brian R. Gibney, the department chair, may be contacted about applying for graduate school.

American Chemical Society

The American Chemical Society (ACS), the largest scientific society in the world with a membership of more than 150,000 chemists, welcomes undergraduates interested in chemistry as members. The ACS website has resources for students to explore careers in the chemical sciences, perform undergraduate research, and get experience via an internship or summer research program. The ACS Career Navigator guides you in exploring career paths, finding and landing a job, and building your career. The ACS also offers guidance on planning for graduate studies.

Occupational Outlook Handbook

Occupational Outlook Handbook gives you information on the training and education needed for the job, earning potential, expected job prospects, what you would be doing on the job, and what the working conditions are like.

Brooklyn. All in.