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Chemists can make a bit of money in industry depending on the specialization. Organic Chem can go into medical/pharma research. Then there is lots of research
by kyrra 12y ago
Chemists can make a bit of money in industry depending on the specialization. Organic Chem can go into medical/pharma research. Then there is lots of research/work/money in materials (diamonds, carbon fiber, other composites, lots of stuff I don't know).
I don't know the specific pay in these fields, but it is definitely higher than you would get staying in academics.
- dekhn 12y agoUS pharma hires few if any organic chemists any more. That work got offshored a decade ago.
- refurb 12y agoThis is true. It's not only outsourcing, but also the shift from small molecules to large molecules (proteins, antibodies). Pharma companies have shed thousands of chemists over the past 10 years. I know a few who have been able to hold onto their jobs, but it hasn't been pretty.
- refurb 12y agoJust to add more context, I used to work as a chemistry researcher and when I first started job hunting in the early 2000's pharma was desperate for organic chemists. You could apply to 5 openings and get 5 offers. Most of the folks I knew who were chemists have moved onto other roles/industries.
- DaveWalk 12y agoThis is a HUGE point. It was once thought that being a chemistry PhD was a shoe-in for industry work, and you could skip being a postdoc entirely. I met a very respected chemist at AACR last year who said all of his postdocs were scrambling for work, and that some were being realistic and considering moving to China for the opportunities.
- IndianAstronaut 12y agoI know lots of biochem phds from my grad program. The median jncome is around $50k. Many had to apply to hundreds of places to land a job.