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Faculty of Science : School of Chemistry
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Careers

Information about career options and profiles of Chemistry graduates

Pathways to the future

A degree in chemistry enhances global opportunities for employment in discipline related areas using chemical skills on a daily basis, associated areas exploiting chemical knowledge in other areas, and lateral areas employing transferable (generic) skills.

Knowledge of chemistry is essential for employment and advancement in scientific and allied careers in teaching, research, government and professional positions, health and environmental regulation, commerce and industry. With nations around the world increasing their investment and stimulation of science and technology, and commercial, pharmaceutical, or industrial spin-offs, the demand for chemists is ever strengthening and even now, supply cannot meet demand in many areas.

Develop transferable skills

Apart from discipline-specific knowledge and training, the study of Chemistry develops a wide range of generic skills applicable and in high demand across the modern workforce; these include time and project management skills, communication skills, sophisticated problem solving skills (the ability to think abstractly, analytically and logically), and computer/IT skills. Find out more about why you should study Chemistry.

While many careers involve graduates using their chemistry skills directly, many employment destinations do not involve doing chemistry on a day-to-day basis. Not all chemists wear white coats!

Chemistry graduates are building secure, satisfying and productive careers as researchers, teachers, project managers, consultants, patent attorneys, entrepreneurs, sales/service people, policy makers, analysts, writers and editors.

High graduate salaries

Gradstats, a yearly survey of recent graduates, show physical scientists/chemists are readily employed at higher salaries than many other graduates (except dentists, doctors and vets). Salary surveys have shown that Bachelor of Science or Doctoral graduates earn $15,000/$30,000 p.a. more than average wage earners. The demand for chemists will only strengthen into the future.


In 2004, the proportion of 2003 Graduates in full time employment Australia-wide:

  Chemistry 76%  
  Life Sciences 69%  
  Physics 69%  
  Comp Science 71%  
Source: Gradstats, Number 9, 2004

 

To explore the many career opportunities available by studying chemistry, search for 'chemistry' at: www.careersthatgo.com.au

Graduate profiles

Our chemistry graduates secure diverse and satisfying careers all over the world. A few profiles of graduates are available.

Career Destinations and Employers

University of Melbourne Chemistry graduates have filled many and varied positions, both locally and overseas, including:

  • technical services officer (many companies)
  • editor (chemistry and allied journals)
  • R&D scientist (Options Consulting, CSIRO)
  • graduate chemist (Southern Cross Consulting)
  • Lecturers in Chemistry (many universities)
  • secondary teachers
  • R&D chemist (Tokyo Ink)
  • chemist - production technologist (Chemskill)
  • specialists - Molecular Biology and Mass Spectrometry (Applied Biosystems) product technologist (Nestlé)
  • sales consultant (many companies)
  • Industrial Research Chemist
  • laboratory technician (CSIRO)
  • laboratory manager (Ludwig Institute)
  • postdoctoral fellow (many institutes)
  • quality assurance (Mayne Pharma)
  • analytical chemist (Sigma)
  • trainee patent attorney (Elkington Fife, UK)
  • synthetic chemist (Cerylid)
  • hazardous waste analyst (MFB)
  • analyst (Public Transport, Vic)
  • professional and entrepreneurial (own businesses)
  • policy advisors (private and government).
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Dr Trevor Smith with the time-resolved fluorescence imaging system
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