21101 – Chemists
Lead statement
Chemists conduct research and analysis in support of industrial operations, product and process development, quality control, environmental control, medical diagnosis and treatment, biotechnology, nanotechnology and other applications. They also conduct theoretical, experimental and applied research into basic chemical and biochemical processes to create or synthesize new products and processes.
Main duties
- Analyze, synthesize, purify, modify and characterize chemical or biochemical compounds
- Develop and conduct programs of analysis to ensure quality control of raw materials, chemical intermediates or final products
- Conduct programs of sample and data collection and analysis to identify and quantify environmental toxicants
- Conduct research to develop new chemical formulations and processes and devise new technical applications of industrial chemicals and compounds
- Conduct research to discover, develop, refine and evaluate new products such as those used in nanomedicine, nanoelectronics and other applications of chemistry
- Conduct fundamental and applied research into the synthesis and properties of chemical compounds and the mechanisms of chemical reactions
- Investigate chemical aspects of the mechanisms of drug action, the diagnosis and treatment of disease, organ function and the assessment of health
- Participate in interdisciplinary research and development projects working with chemical engineers, biologists, microbiologists, agronomists, geologists or other professionals
- Act as technical consultant in a particular field of expertise
- May participate in the commercialization of new products
- May supervise other chemists and chemical technicians and technologists.
Employment requirements
- A bachelor's degree in chemistry, biochemistry or a related discipline is required.
- A master's or doctoral degree is usually required for employment as a research chemist.
- Licensing by a provincial association of chemists is required in Quebec and available but voluntary, in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.
Example job titles
agricultural chemist · agrochemist · analytical biochemist · bioanalytical chemist · analytical chemist · atmospheric chemist · biological chemist · biochemist · chemical spectroscopist · chemist · chemistry research scientist · chemistry researcher · clinical chemist · coatings chemist · control chemist · dairy chemist · detergent chemist · dye chemist · electrochemist · environmental chemist · enzyme chemist · fermentologist · food chemist · forensic chemist · glass chemist · industrial chemist · inorganic chemist · laboratory chemist · leather chemist · medical chemist · medicinal chemist · nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopist · nuclear chemist · nutritional chemist · oceanographic chemist · optical spectroscopist · organic chemist · organic mass spectrometrist · organometallic chemist · petroleum chemist
Wages (per hour)
| Province / territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $24.00 | $38.46 | $65.93 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $29.36 | $43.69 | $70.91 |
| Nova Scotia | $26.52 | $39.23 | $56.76 |
| New Brunswick | $25.30 | $36.83 | $56.10 |
| Quebec | $24.94 | $38.88 | $60.75 |
| Ontario | $27.09 | $39.49 | $66.67 |
| Manitoba | $27.22 | $39.40 | $67.01 |
| Saskatchewan | $27.86 | $42.97 | $72.14 |
| Alberta | $27.00 | $43.74 | $68.19 |
| British Columbia | $26.69 | $39.95 | $59.34 |
Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Occupation details: ESDC OaSIS 2025, based on NOC 2021.