Lab Chemist
Also known as: Chemist · QC Chemist · Laboratory Chemist
Tests raw materials and products in a chemical lab using standard methods.
What you’d do
Tests raw materials, in-process samples and finished products in a chemical lab using standard methods, and records the results. Lab chemists work in pharmaceutical, chemical, food, cement, paint and water-testing industries, and in independent testing labs. A day involves preparing samples, running instruments and titrations, and keeping records that meet quality and regulatory requirements.
- Prepares samples and reagents
- Runs titrations and instrument tests
- Records results in lab registers
- Maintains lab safety and equipment
How you get in
Freshers start as trainee or QC chemists in manufacturing units or NABL-accredited testing labs, often through walk-in drives in industrial areas. Lab practicals, familiarity with instruments and careful documentation are what interviews check. An M.Sc in Chemistry widens options into QA, analytical R&D and method development.
Salary in India
Fresher salary over the years
middle of the 0–1 yr range, ₹ lakh a year
Fewer than two years of fresher data so far — the trend shows once there are two.
Skills you’ll use
From our guide · a curated list is coming
- Wet chemistry — titration and sample preparation
- Instrumental analysis (HPLC, GC, spectroscopy)
- Good documentation practice
- Calibration and lab safety
- Following standard test methods (IS, pharmacopoeia)
About this field · for freshers
Job openings by year
Is demand growing?
Not added yet.
Competition3
How many graduates enter each year?
B.Sc (all subjects) graduates in 2023-24 at institutions that reported to AISHE — everyone finishing that degree, not only those entering this role.
Who hires
IT firms, banks, government, startups?
Not added yet.
Where the jobs are
Which cities?
Not added yet.
Women in the field3
Is it diverse?
Share of women among B.Sc (all subjects) graduates in 2023-24 — the entry degree, not people already working in this role.
At a glance
- Shift work is common in plant QC labs.
- Growth path: chemist → senior chemist → QC/QA officer → lab in-charge.
- Pharma QC roles involve heavy documentation and regular audits.
Stay safe
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