Analytical Chemist
What this job does:
Develops and applies analytical methods to characterize chemical and biological samples. Uses instruments like HPLC, mass spectrometry, and spectroscopy to quantify compounds, assess purity, support product development, and generate data for regulatory submissions.
This job is similar to these lab/research tasks:
Running complex analytical instruments and interpreting outputs; developing and validating methods from scratch; troubleshooting unexpected results and instrument failures; maintaining rigorous documentation; communicating technical findings to cross-functional teams.
Typical starting salary range
$72k to $110k
Salary estimate represented as 25th to 75th percentile. Gathered from recent job postings, Glassdoor.com, and Salary.com
Daily task breakdown
- Analytical testing and method execution (35%)
- Method development, optimization, and validation (25%)
- Data analysis, interpretation, and reporting (20%)
- Instrument maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting (10%)
- Documentation and cross-functional collaboration (10%)
Skills you'll use in this job:
Analytical method development and validation; HPLC, LC-MS, GC-MS, NMR, UV-Vis, or ICP-MS; data analysis and interpretation; GMP and GLP documentation; OOS investigation and root-cause analysis; statistical analysis of analytical data; instrument maintenance and troubleshooting; cross-functional communication
Talk about these PhD skills in your resume and interview:
Talk about your hands-on instrument experience from your PhD - running HPLC, mass spec, NMR, or other analytical tools. Highlight method development, troubleshooting instrument variability, and rigorous data interpretation. Emphasize your documentation discipline and your ability to communicate complex analytical data to non-specialists.
Alternative job titles to search:
Analytical Chemist; Analytical Scientist; Analytical Development Scientist; Pharmaceutical Analytical Scientist; Method Development Scientist; Bioanalytical Scientist; Research Chemist; Analytical R&D Scientist; Senior Analytical Chemist; QC Analytical Chemist
*Note:
-Job titles are inconsistent between companies. Try various keywords.
-PhDs tend to undershoot seniority level. Target higher than you think.
