Chemists
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Job description
These individuals conduct analysis and research on products, substances, and compounds. They use chemical and biochemical processes to develop new products. They work in:
- Laboratories
- Chemical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries
- Mining, metallurgy, and pulp and paper companies
- Manufacturing establishments
- Public utilities
- Health services
- Educational institutions
- Government institutions
Environment
- Controlled ambient temperature
- Hazardous chemical
- Odours
Main tasks
- Analyze, synthesize, modify, and characterize chemical or biochemical compounds.
- Control the quality of raw materials, chemical intermediates, and finished products.
- Sample, collect, and analyze data to detect the presence of toxic substances.
- Develop new formulas and processes.
- Develop new applications for industrial chemicals.
- Conduct research to discover new products.
- Expand knowledge of the properties of chemical compounds and chemical reactions.
- Study the chemistry of drug action and the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
- Supervise other Chemists, Chemical Technologists, and Technicians.
Advancement and mobility
- Professionals in this group can move from one specialty to another depending on their experience.
- Experience gives access to management positions.
Hourly wage
The hourly wage is calculated by averaging wages from 2022 to 2024.- Minimum
- $21.50
- Median
- $38.24
- Maximum
- $67.31
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects
All of Québec
All of Québec
Total jobs for 2023
All of Québec
All of Québec
Gender distribution
All of Québec
- 48.3% Female
- 51.7% Male
- 48.3% Female
- 51.7% Male
Job types
All of Québec
- Full time
- Part time
- Full time
- Part time
Yearly wage on 2020
All of Québec
All of Québec
Other characteristics
All of Québec
- None
All of Québec
- None
Sectors of activity
All of Québec
-
NAICS 324, 32528% of jobs
-
NAICS 5416, 541717% of jobs
-
NAICS 419% of jobs
-
NAICS 311, 3128% of jobs
-
NAICS 621, 622, 6237% of jobs
-
Others31% of jobs
All of Québec
-
NAICS 324, 32528% of jobs
-
NAICS 5416, 541717% of jobs
-
NAICS 419% of jobs
-
NAICS 311, 3128% of jobs
-
NAICS 621, 622, 6237% of jobs
-
Others31% of jobs
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
University
Biochemistry
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 35%
60.7% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 48.4%
41.9% of graduates pursue further studies
Chemistry
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 31.7%
62.7% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 66.7%
30.3% of graduates pursue further studies
Food sciences and technology
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 58.1%
39.5% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 89.5%
5.3% of graduates pursue further studies
Pharmacology or pharmaceutical science
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 63.9%
26.5% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 81.9%
13.3% of graduates pursue further studies
Also required
Membership in the Ordre des chimistes du Québec (OCQ [Quebec Order of Chemists]) to work as a Chemist.
Sometimes required
A Master’s or Doctoral degree is usually required for research employment.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Information processing
- Science
- Data collection
- Reading comprehension
- Critical thought
- Active listening
- Mathematics
- Solving complex problems
- Written expression
- Oral expression
- Active learning
- Quality control analysis
- Result evaluation
- Systems evaluation
- System analysis
- Judgment and decision-making
- Coordination
- Teaching
- Equipment maintenance
- Monitoring operations
- Social perception
Abilities
- Written comprehension
- Oral comprehension
- Deductive reasoning
- Inductive reasoning
- Awareness of issues
- Mathematical reasoning
- Near vision
- Written expression
- Verbal skills
- Information organization
- Classification
- Basic numeracy
- Digital dexterity
- Processing flexibility
- Selective attention
- Speech clarity
- Idea generation
- Hand-arm stability
- Speech recognition
- Colour perception and distinction
- Distance vision
- Originality
- Perception speed
- Visualization
Knowledge and attributes
- Autonomy
- Versatility
- Rigour
- Creativity
- Capacity for synthesis
- Sense of observation
- Commitment to quality
- Learning speed
- Patience
- Knowledge of chemistry
Interests
- Direct, organize, and manage
- Draft, communicate, and inform
- Work with numbers
- Carry out research
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
- Artistic
- People with this profile prefer to express their emotions and thoughts through various art forms. They like to use their imagination.
- Realistic
- People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
Official name of the NOC 21101
Chemists
Job titles
- Chemist
- Biochemist
- Chemistry research scientist
- Laboratory chemist
- Pharmaceutical chemist
- Agricultural chemist
- Medical biochemist
- Analytical biochemist
- Biochemistry research scientist
- Chemist - biomolecular assembly
- Standards chemist
- Analytical chemist
- Clinical chemist
- Dye chemist
- Food chemist
- Nutritional chemist
- Oceanographic chemist
- Research chemist
- Industrial chemist
- Inorganic chemist
- Forensic chemist
- Medical chemist
- Nuclear chemist
- Organic chemist
- Organometallic chemist
- Physiological chemist
- Quality control chemist
- Atmospheric chemist
- Hydrochemist
- Fermentologist
- Detergent chemist
- Enzyme chemist
- Plastics and resins chemist
- Polymer chemist
- Dairy chemist
- Protein chemist
- Coatings chemist
- Protective coatings chemist
- Textile chemist
- Wood chemist
- Control chemist
- Process control chemist
- Leather chemist
- Petroleum chemist
- Glass chemist
- Environmental chemist
- Soil chemist
- Water purification chemist
- Theoretical chemist
- Electrochemist
- Nanochemist
- Physical chemist
- Physical research chemist
- Organic mass spectrometrist
- Chemical spectroscopist
- Optical spectroscopist
- Nuclear magnetic resonance (nmr) spectroscopist
Skill type
Natural and applied sciences and related occupations
Last update: January 29, 2026