by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in General Chemistry explores Chemistry, General. A General Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Composition And Behavior Of Matter, Including Its Micro- And Macro-Structure, The Processes Of Chemical Change, And The Theoretical Description And Laboratory Simulation Of These Phenomena. Read on to learn the important information every general chemistry student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general chemistry programs.
In the U.S., general chemistry is a popular field of study, with 18,323 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Chemistry Schools ranking analyzes these 1,175 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general chemistry students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general chemistry programs later in this article.
Coursework for General Chemistry emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general chemistry graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a general chemistry program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a general chemistry major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general chemistry degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 9 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,012 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 11,773 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,501 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 3,028 |
People currently working in careers related to general chemistry tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 48.2% |
| Master’s degree | 13.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 8.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 7.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.6% |
| Some college courses | 4.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general chemistry careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in general chemistry opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to general chemistry.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general chemistry.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | 398,348 | 7.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Chemical Technicians | 136,017 | 11.6% |
| Food Science Technicians | 135,157 | 7.3% |
| Chemists | 91,666 | 3.1% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of general chemistry graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $46,286 |
| 4 years | $61,499 |
| 5 years | $72,069 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for general chemistry graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general chemistry grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Food Science Technicians | $100,898 |
| Forensic Science Technicians | $85,117 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | $69,509 |
| Chemical Technicians | $60,181 |
With 1,175 different general chemistry programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general chemistry school rankings to help you.
Those considering general chemistry, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Chemistry, Other | 540 |
| Forensic Chemistry | 367 |
| Polymer Chemistry | 83 |
| Chemical Physics | 41 |
| Analytical Chemistry | 38 |
| Environmental Chemistry | 20 |
| Organic Chemistry | 8 |
| Physical Chemistry | 8 |
| Theoretical Chemistry | 6 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
