AITakeover Tracker
36%medium risk

Chemists

Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge.

Green Increased DemandHigher risk than 68% of occupations

AI Impact Summary

Chemists faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 36/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 68% of all analyzed occupations. Of 13 analyzed tasks, 2 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.

Skill Impact Analysis

AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)

Mathematics10%

High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Reading Comprehension10%

High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Mathematics10%

High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Information Ordering5%

High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Memorization5%

Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Programming15%

Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

AI-Resistant Skills (11)

Adaptability/Flexibility85%

Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Complex Problem Solving75%

Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Leadership88%

Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Equipment Maintenance78%

Equipment Maintenance is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Coordination70%

Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Instructing75%

Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Social Perceptiveness90%

Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Service Orientation82%

Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

AI-Augmented Skills (7)

Critical ThinkingWritingActive LearningMonitoringSystems AnalysisJudgment and Decision MakingTechnology Design

Recommended Courses

Courses matched to Chemists skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.

Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.

Upskill to Reduce Risk

Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills

Courseraintermediate

Machine Learning Specialization

by Stanford / DeepLearning.AI

~10 weeks$49/mo4.9Certificate
Addresses vulnerability: Mathematics

Estimated Impact

-7.9pt risk+$5K/yr salary

AI-Augmentation Tools

Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity

Coursera

Creative Writing Specialization

by Wesleyan University

~8 weeks$49/mo4.7Certificate
Enhances AI augmentation: Writing

Estimated Impact

-5.4pt risk+$5K/yr salary

Strengthen Your Edge

Double down on skills AI can't replicate

Pluralsightadvanced

Design Patterns in C# and .NET

by Pluralsight

20 hours$29/mo4.6
Strengthens resilience: Complex Problem Solving

Estimated Impact

-2.2pt risk+$3K/yr salary

We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.

Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.

Education & Training

Percentage of workers at each education and training level

Education Level

Associate's Degree4%
Bachelor's Degree86%
Master's Degree2%
Doctoral/Professional Degree7%
Level 91%
Level 111%

Prior Experience Needed

Work experience required to enter this job

None33%
3-6 months3%
6 months - 1 year15%
1-2 years17%
2-4 years7%
4-6 years11%
6-8 years8%
Over 10 years6%

Training Provided After Hiring

How long it typically takes to learn on the job

None1%
Up to 1 month12%
1-3 months30%
3-6 months15%
6 months - 1 year22%
1-2 years14%
4-6 years6%

How AI Impacts Each Task

13 tasks analyzed

Analyze organic or inorganic compounds to determine chemical or physical properties, composition, structure, relationships, or reactions, using chromatography, spectroscopy, or spectrophotometry techniques.

Risk: 47.7%AI: 51.78ObservedTime: 15%

Conduct quality control tests.

Risk: 78.0%AI: 72EstimatedTime: 15%

Maintain laboratory instruments to ensure proper working order and troubleshoot malfunctions when needed.

Risk: 15.0%AI: 15EstimatedTime: 8%

Prepare test solutions, compounds, or reagents for laboratory personnel to conduct tests.

Risk: 51.0%AI: 45EstimatedTime: 10%

Induce changes in composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy, or chemical catalysts for quantitative or qualitative analysis.

Risk: 51.4%AI: 60.9ObservedTime: 10%

Evaluate laboratory safety procedures to ensure compliance with standards or to make improvements as needed.

Risk: 53.0%AI: 65EstimatedTime: 5%

Compile and analyze test information to determine process or equipment operating efficiency or to diagnose malfunctions.

Risk: 55.0%AI: 70EstimatedTime: 8%

Write technical papers or reports or prepare standards and specifications for processes, facilities, products, or tests.

Risk: 59.0%AI: 80EstimatedTime: 8%

Confer with scientists or engineers to conduct analyses of research projects, interpret test results, or develop nonstandard tests.

Risk: 37.7%AI: 56.73ObservedTime: 6%

Develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods.

Risk: 51.0%AI: 60EstimatedTime: 6%

Direct, coordinate, or advise personnel in test procedures for analyzing components or physical properties of materials.

Risk: 27.0%AI: 30EstimatedTime: 5%

Purchase laboratory supplies, such as chemicals, when supplies are low or near their expiration date.

Risk: 86.0%AI: 92EstimatedTime: 2%

Study effects of various methods of processing, preserving, or packaging on composition or properties of foods.

Risk: 50.9%AI: 59.72ObservedTime: 2%

Protective Factors

Total protective discount: 30.5%

Essential Soft Skills

Traits that are hard for AI to replicate

Attention to DetailAnalytical ThinkingIntegrityDependabilityAdaptability/FlexibilityCooperationStress ToleranceInitiativeAchievement/EffortIndependencePersistenceInnovation

Wage & Employment (2024)

Median Wage

$84,150

per year

Mean Wage

$95,940

per year

Employment

83K

workers

Wage Range

$53,210 - $154,430

10th - 90th pct

Wage Distribution

$53,210Median: $84,150$154,430
Career Planning

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Recommendations

Skills to Develop

These skills are at risk from AI automation. Chemists professionals should diversify beyond them.

  • Mathematics

    High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

  • Reading Comprehension

    High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

  • Mathematics

    High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

  • Information Ordering

    High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

  • Memorization

    Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Skills to Leverage

These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.

  • Adaptability/Flexibility

    Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Complex Problem Solving

    Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Leadership

    Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Equipment Maintenance

    Equipment Maintenance is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Coordination

    Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Tools to Adopt

AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.

  • Critical Thinking

    Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Writing

    Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Active Learning

    Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Monitoring

    Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Systems Analysis

    Systems Analysis will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

Score History

Risk score over 2 scoring runs

+0.1

overall change

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