Best institutions to study Chemical Technology/Technician
A program that prepares individuals to apply scientific principles and technical skills in support of chemical and biochemical research and industrial operations.
61 U.S. institutions graduated 2,879 Chemical Technology/Technician students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 41.0301, a specialization of Physical Science Technologies/Technicians (CIP 41.03), and leads most directly to the Chemical Technicians occupation (BLS SOC 19-4031).
About Chemical Technology/Technician programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply scientific principles and technical skills in support of chemical and biochemical research and industrial operations. Includes instruction in principles of chemistry and biochemistry, technical mathematics, computer applications, radiochemistry, industrial biochemistry, chemical instrumentation, physical chemistry, laboratory research methods, industrial processing methods and equipment, and test equipment operation and maintenance.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Chemical Technology/Technician program prepares individuals to apply scientific principles and technical skills in support of chemical and biochemical research and industrial operations. This program is ideal for students interested in working in laboratories or industrial settings, assisting scientists and engineers in their work with chemicals and materials.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in chemistry, biochemistry, technical mathematics, and computer applications. Coursework typically includes laboratory research methods, chemical instrumentation, and industrial processing methods, equipping graduates with essential skills for the industry.
Credentials awarded
What Chemical Technology/Technician graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Associate's degree1,104 graduates / yr · 49 institutions38%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year1,101 graduates / yr · 23 institutions38%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years640 graduates / yr · 21 institutions22%
- Master's degree31 graduates / yr · 2 institutions1.1%
- Bachelor's degree2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
- Award of less than 12 weeks1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.0%
Graduates over time
Chemical Technology/Technician completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,209 |
| 2013 | 1,512 |
| 2014 | 1,577 |
| 2015 | 2,186 |
| 2016 | 2,727 |
| 2017 | 3,207 |
| 2018 | 2,815 |
| 2019 | 3,487 |
| 2020 | 3,113 |
| 2021 | 2,803 |
| 2022 | 2,687 |
| 2023 | 2,616 |
| 2024 | 2,843 |
| 2025 | 2,879 |
Top 50 institutions for Chemical Technology/Technician, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida SouthWestern State College Fort Myers, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 357 | 39% | — | — |
| 2 | San Jacinto Community College Pasadena, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 316 | 30% | — | $59,496 |
| 3 | Eastern Florida State College Melbourne, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 189 | 52% | — | — |
| 4 | Brazosport College Lake Jackson, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 188 | 56% | — | — |
| 5 | Del Mar College Corpus Christi, TXPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 176 | 11% | — | $56,948 |
| 6 | Lee College Baytown, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 170 | 53% | — | $94,986 |
| 7 | Lamar Institute of Technology Beaumont, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 154 | 31% | — | $42,539 |
| 8 | Lamar State College - Orange Orange, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 129 | 37% | — | $49,932 |
| 9 | Alvin Community College Alvin, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 95 | 24% | — | $52,336 |
| 10 | Lamar State College - Port Arthur Port Arthur, TXPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 87 | 45% | — | — |
| 11 | Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 76 | 37% | — | $47,820 |
| 12 | Wharton County Junior College Wharton, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 72 | 27% | — | $45,277 |
| 13 | Lone Star College System The Woodlands, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 67 | 21% | — | $53,976 |
| 14 | College of the Mainland Texas City, TXPublicAssociate's | 63 | 31% | — | $49,694 |
| 15 | Weber State University Ogden, UTPublicAssociate's | 63 | 46% | — | $51,384 |
| 16 | Lake - Sumter State College Leesburg, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 62 | 48% | — | — |
| 17 | Victoria College Victoria, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 51 | 29% | — | — |
| 18 | Arkansas Tech University Russellville, ARPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 49 | 49% | — | — |
| 19 | Valencia College Orlando, FLPublicAssociate's | 39 | 48% | — | — |
| 20 | Ashland Community and Technical College Ashland, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 38 | 51% | — | $61,539 |
| 21 | Sacramento City College Sacramento, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 37 | 33% | — | — |
| 22 | Houston City College Houston, TXPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 37 | 17% | — | $60,612 |
| 23 | SOWELA Technical Community College Lake Charles, LAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 33 | 43% | — | — |
| 24 | College of Central Florida Ocala, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 29 | 44% | — | — |
| 25 | Kilgore College Kilgore, TXPublicAssociate's | 27 | 39% | — | $68,335 |
| 26 | Bellingham Technical College Bellingham, WAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 27 | 42% | — | — |
| 27 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicMaster's | 27 | 85% | — | — |
| 28 | Cape Fear Community College Wilmington, NCPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 25 | 34% | — | — |
| 29 | Seminole State College of Florida Sanford, FLPublicAssociate's | 20 | 41% | — | — |
| 30 | Maysville Community and Technical College Maysville, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 19 | 56% | — | — |
| 31 | Jefferson Community and Technical College Louisville, KYPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 14 | 35% | — | — |
| 32 | Delta College University Center, MIPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 13 | 27% | — | — |
| 33 | Fresno City College Fresno, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 11 | 24% | — | — |
| 34 | Lehigh Carbon Community College Schnecksville, PAPublicAssociate's | 11 | 30% | — | — |
| 35 | University of South Alabama Mobile, ALPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 10 | 53% | — | — |
| 36 | Community College of Rhode Island Warwick, RIPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 10 | 26% | — | — |
| 37 | Northern New Mexico College Espanola, NMPublicAssociate's | 8 | 29% | — | — |
| 38 | CUNY New York City College of Technology Brooklyn, NYPublicAssociate's | 8 | 21% | — | — |
| 39 | Bucks County Community College Newtown, PAPublicAssociate's | 8 | 32% | — | — |
| 40 | East Los Angeles College Monterey Park, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 6 | 37% | — | — |
| 41 | Berkeley City College Berkeley, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 6 | 36% | — | — |
| 42 | Delaware Technical Community College - Terry Dover, DEPublicAssociate's | 6 | 22% | — | — |
| 43 | Ferris State University Big Rapids, MIPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 47% | — | — |
| 44 | Bakersfield College Bakersfield, CAPublicAssociate'sBachelor's | 4 | 21% | — | — |
| 45 | Kalamazoo Valley Community College Kalamazoo, MIPublicAssociate's | 4 | 28% | — | — |
| 46 | Rice University Houston, TXPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 4 | 95% | $13,264 | — |
| 47 | University of Puerto Rico - Humacao Humacao, PRPublicAssociate's | 4 | 47% | — | — |
| 48 | SUNY Corning Community College Corning, NYPublicAssociate's | 3 | 34% | — | — |
| 49 | Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Cincinnati, OHPublicAssociate'sAward of less than 12 weeks | 3 | 16% | — | — |
| 50 | Instituto Tecnologico de Puerto Rico - Recinto de Manati Manati, PRPublicAssociate's | 3 | 34% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Physical Science Technologies/Technicians field (CIP 41.03) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 25 states & territories
Where Chemical Technology/Technician graduates come from. Each state links to all Physical Science Technologies/Technicians programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-4031, Chemical Technicians, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Chemical Technology/Technician program can pursue careers as Chemical Technicians, Chemical Equipment Operators, or Chemical Plant Operators. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 3.7% and approximately 6,700 annual openings. The median wage for this field is $57,790, with an Associate's degree being the typical educational requirement.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 41.0301
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Chemical Techniciansprimary SOC 19-4031 | $60,390 | +3.7% About as fast as average | ~6,700 | Associate's degree |
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders SOC 51-9011 | $58,040 | +3.3% About as fast as average | ~14,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Chemical Plant and System Operators SOC 51-8091 | $78,120 | -6.1% Decline | ~1,600 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Chemical Technology/Technician programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- 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.
- Monitor product quality to ensure compliance with standards and specifications.
- Set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses, using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, or microscopy.
- Prepare chemical solutions for products or processes, following standardized formulas, or create experimental formulas.
- Compile and interpret results of tests and analyses.
Tools and technology used
Other Physical Science Technologies/Technicians specializations
The 2 other 6-digit CIP codes under Physical Science Technologies/Technicians (CIP 41.03).
Common questions
What is the typical duration of the Chemical Technology/Technician program?+
The program typically offers various awards, including an Associate's degree, which usually takes about two years to complete.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in science, critical thinking, monitoring, and laboratory techniques, among others.
What types of jobs can I get after completing this program?+
You can work as a Chemical Technician, Chemical Equipment Operator, or Chemical Plant Operator.
What is the job outlook for Chemical Technicians?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 3.7% and around 6,700 annual job openings.
What is the CIP code for Chemical Technology/Technician?+
Chemical Technology/Technician is CIP 41.0301 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Physical Science Technologies/Technicians (CIP 41.03). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply scientific principles and technical skills in support of chemical and biochemical research and industrial operations. Includes instruction in principles of chemistry and biochemistry, technical mathematics, computer applications, radiochemistry, industrial biochemistry, chemical instrumentation, physical chemistry, laboratory research methods, industrial processing methods and equipment, and test equipment operation and maintenance.
How many institutions offer Chemical Technology/Technician programs?+
61 U.S. institutions reported Chemical Technology/Technician graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 25 states & territories, awarding 2,879 credentials in the year. That is 97.1% of all Physical Science Technologies/Technicians graduates.
How much do Chemical Technology/Technician graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Chemical Technicians occupation, which Chemical Technology/Technician most directly leads to, pays a median of $60,390 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Physical Science Technologies/Technicians field report median earnings of $53,976 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. This specialization accounts for nearly all Physical Science Technologies/Technicians graduates, so its figures match the Physical Science Technologies/Technicians program page.
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