Chemical Technicians
Official O*NET title: Chemical Technicians (19-4031.00)
Also called: analytical laboratory technician, chemical analyst, chemical technician, laboratory analyst, laboratory technician
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses, using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, or microscopy
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing chemical technicians work
6 of 12 measurable main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Red (lots of AI use) — 50%.
This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses, using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, or microscopy (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Compile and interpret results of tests and analyses (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Write technical reports or prepare graphs or charts to document experimental results (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Provide technical support or assistance to chemists or engineers (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Prepare chemical solutions for products or processes, following standardized formulas, or create experimental formulas (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Conduct chemical or physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative or quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, or gaseous materials (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Maintain, clean, or sterilize laboratory instruments or equipment (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Monitor product quality to make sure compliance with standards and specifications (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Provide and maintain a safe work environment by participating in safety programs, committees, or teams and by conducting laboratory or plant safety audits (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Develop or conduct programs of sampling and analysis to maintain quality standards of raw materials, chemical intermediates, or products (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Train new employees on topics such as the proper operation of laboratory equipment (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Order and inventory materials to maintain supplies (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Develop new chemical engineering processes or production techniques — some recorded AI use
- Operate experimental pilot plants, assisting with experimental design — no recorded AI use
- Direct or monitor other workers producing chemical products — no recorded AI use
- Design or fabricate experimental apparatus to develop new products or processes — no recorded AI use
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses, using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, or microscopy”. Try the prompt for: “Compile and interpret results of tests and analyses”.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. The first 2 weeks are free; Premium (coming soon) adds weeks 3–12. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and chemical technicians
Will AI replace chemical technicians?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 6 of the 12 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Red rating (lots of AI use). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 9 of the 16 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which chemical technician tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses, using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, or microscopy; compile and interpret results of tests and analyses; write technical reports or prepare graphs or charts to document experimental results.
Which chemical technician tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: maintain, clean, or sterilize laboratory instruments or equipment; monitor product quality to make sure compliance with standards and specifications; provide and maintain a safe work environment by participating in safety programs, committees, or teams and by conducting laboratory or plant safety audits. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 49% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a chemical technician start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.
See how this job ranks
Chemical Technicians ranks #135 of 572 jobs for the share of main tasks with AI use (#1 = most), and #13 of 45 in Science & Research.
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