Chemical application specialist
Also known as: chemical application technician, development chemist, product development chemist, product formulation chemist, specialist chemist, chemical product application specialist
About this occupation
Chemical application specialists develop chemical products according to the needs and expectation of the clients. They conduct development of formulas and processes of formulation as well as evaluation of the efficiency and performances of the formulations.
A specialisation of chemist.
Essential skills and knowledge
- keep up-to-date with regulations
- marketing principles
- advise customers
- develop chemical products
- communicate with customers
- business analysis
- chemistry
- characteristics of products
- translate formulae into processes
- build business relationships
- use chemical analysis equipment
- write work-related reports
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Chemical Engineers (O*NET 17-2041.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Develop safety procedures to be employed by workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions.
- Troubleshoot problems with chemical manufacturing processes.
- Monitor and analyze data from processes and experiments.
- Evaluate chemical equipment and processes to identify ways to optimize performance or to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
- Design and plan layout of equipment.
- Prepare estimate of production costs and production progress reports for management.
- Typical education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Preparation
- Job Zone 4 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Investigative, Conventional
Top skills: Science, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Complex Problem Solving, Active Learning, Judgment and Decision Making
US median pay: US$125,040 a year (2025), 21,070 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- ChemistryO*NET: ChemistryExtremely important (4.7)
- Design and TechnologyO*NET: Design + Engineering and TechnologyVery important (4.4)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsVery important (4.3)
- Technical DrawingO*NET: DesignVery important (4.0)
- PhysicsO*NET: PhysicsVery important (4.0)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (3.7)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsImportant (3.2)
- MetalworkO*NET: MechanicalImportant (3.0)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Materials Engineers
- Manufacturing Engineers
- Materials Scientists
- Chemists
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Industrial Engineers
- Petroleum Engineers
- Mechanical Engineers
- Nuclear Engineers
- Mechatronics Engineers
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.