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Chemical Technicians

SOC 19-4031.00Job Zone 3 · Medium Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers chemical technicians working in industrial, production, and research laboratory environments, performing analytical testing, equipment maintenance, quality monitoring, and technical support across associate-degree and vocational-level preparation pathways.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Basic laboratory glassware and measuring instruments — identify and handle under direct supervision in a chemical laboratory setting.
  2. Standardized cleaning and sterilization procedures — follow step-by-step to maintain laboratory instruments and equipment under technician guidance.
  3. Simple chemical solutions — prepare according to pre-written standardized formulas under close supervision in a production or research lab.
  4. Routine physical and chemical laboratory tests — perform with direct oversight to assist scientists in qualitative or quantitative analyses of liquid or solid samples.
  5. Basic chromatography or spectroscopy equipment — set up and operate following written protocols under supervisor direction in an analytical laboratory.
  6. Raw test data and instrument readings — record accurately into laboratory notebooks or spreadsheets under the direction of a senior technician.
  7. Laboratory safety rules and personal protective equipment requirements — follow consistently while participating in facility safety orientation programs.
  8. Scientific terminology in standard test procedures and material safety data sheets — read and comprehend to carry out assigned laboratory tasks.
  9. Spreadsheet and word processing software — use to enter, organize, and format basic laboratory data and reports under technician guidance.
  10. Technical questions and task updates — communicate clearly to supervising chemists or engineers during routine laboratory support activities.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Qualitative and quantitative laboratory tests on solids, liquids, and gases — conduct routinely with reduced oversight to support ongoing scientific projects.
  2. Laboratory instruments and equipment — maintain, troubleshoot minor issues, and sterilize on a scheduled basis to ensure consistent operational readiness.
  3. Product quality parameters — monitor against established standards and specifications and flag non-conformances to quality assurance personnel.
  4. Chromatography, spectroscopy, and physical or chemical separation techniques — set up and execute independently for routine analytical testing assignments.
  5. Chemical solutions for multiple product lines or experimental batches — prepare by adapting standardized formulas to meet varying process requirements.
  6. Test and analysis results — compile, calculate, and interpret using spreadsheet or analytical software to identify trends or anomalies in a production environment.
  7. Laboratory safety audits — participate actively by inspecting work areas, documenting hazards, and reporting findings to safety committee members.
  8. Experimental procedures and analytical methods — read and apply from technical literature or standard operating procedures with minimal direction.
  9. Database and enterprise resource planning software — use to query, update, and track sample records and test results in a regulated laboratory environment.
  10. Technical findings — summarize in written reports and communicate verbally to chemists and engineers during project status meetings.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Complex multi-step laboratory analyses involving chromatography, spectroscopy, microscopy, and separation techniques — design and execute autonomously to resolve non-routine scientific questions.
  2. Calibration, preventive maintenance, and performance verification of advanced analytical instruments — manage independently to sustain laboratory measurement integrity.
  3. Product quality monitoring programs — evaluate system-wide compliance with regulatory and internal specifications and recommend corrective actions.
  4. Non-standard experimental formulas — develop and validate for new chemical solutions when established protocols are insufficient for emerging process needs.
  5. Ambiguous or out-of-specification test results — critically analyze, apply inductive and deductive reasoning, and determine root causes in a production or R&D laboratory context.
  6. Comprehensive technical reports and data interpretations — author with precision and present findings to cross-functional teams of chemists, engineers, and management.
  7. Laboratory and plant safety audits — lead independently, evaluate systemic risks, and drive corrective actions across all work areas.
  8. Junior technicians and incoming personnel — mentor on analytical techniques, instrumentation operation, and laboratory safety protocols during daily work activities.
  9. Analytical or scientific software platforms — configure and optimize for data collection, statistical analysis, and reporting in a high-throughput laboratory environment.
  10. Technical support to chemists and engineers on complex projects — provide by applying deep knowledge of chemistry principles, instrumentation, and process variables.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Laboratory-wide competency frameworks and standard operating procedures — develop and implement to standardize analytical practice across all technician teams.
  2. Quality assurance programs — design and govern to ensure sustained compliance with industry regulations, customer specifications, and internal performance benchmarks.
  3. Strategic safety culture initiatives — lead by directing safety committee activities, instituting audit systems, and driving organization-wide hazard reduction goals.
  4. Technology evaluation and capital equipment selection — direct by assessing emerging analytical platforms and recommending investments aligned with organizational research priorities.
  5. Cross-functional collaboration between laboratory, engineering, and production departments — facilitate to translate experimental findings into scalable manufacturing solutions.
  6. Technical training curricula for chemical technicians — design and oversee to build workforce capability across emerging, developing, and proficient skill levels.
  7. Laboratory information management and ERP system deployments — guide configuration and adoption to optimize data integrity and workflow efficiency at organizational scale.
  8. Scientific and technical documentation standards — establish and enforce to ensure accuracy, traceability, and regulatory defensibility of all laboratory records.
  9. Complex problem-solving initiatives involving multi-variable chemical process failures — lead root cause investigations and implement systemic corrective and preventive actions.
  10. Organizational laboratory strategy — shape by synthesizing systems analysis insights, workforce capabilities, and business objectives to guide long-term scientific operations.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

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Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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Show O*NET source anchors58 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com

O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Analysis Tester · Analytical Laboratory Technician (Analytical Lab Technician) · Analytical Technician · Assayer · Bleach Analyst · Chemical Analyst · Chemical Analytical Sampler · Chemical Dependency Technician (Chemical Dependency Tech) · Chemical Engineering Technician · Chemical Laboratory Assistant (Chemical Lab Assistant) · Chemical Laboratory Technician (Chemical Lab Technician) · Chemical Laboratory Tester (Chemical Lab Tester)
RAPIDS apprenticeships
—
O*NET skills
ScienceReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingWritingActive ListeningMonitoringActive LearningSpeakingOperations MonitoringComplex Problem SolvingQuality Control AnalysisJudgment and Decision MakingLearning StrategiesSystems EvaluationTime ManagementSystems AnalysisInstructingOperation and ControlMathematicsCoordination
Knowledge domains
ChemistryEnglish LanguageMathematicsComputers and Electronics
Abilities
Written ComprehensionNear VisionWritten ExpressionOral ComprehensionProblem SensitivityInductive ReasoningInformation OrderingDeductive ReasoningOral ExpressionCategory Flexibility
Work styles
Attention to DetailDependabilityCautiousnessIntegrityAchievement OrientationIntellectual Curiosity
Technology
Object or component oriented development softwareData base user interface and query softwareElectronic mail softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareOperating system softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwarePresentation softwareWord processing softwareEnterprise resource planning ERP software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Conduct chemical or physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative or quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, or gaseous materials.
  2. Maintain, clean, or sterilize laboratory instruments or equipment.
  3. Monitor product quality to ensure compliance with standards and specifications.
  4. Set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses, using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, or microscopy.
  5. Prepare chemical solutions for products or processes, following standardized formulas, or create experimental formulas.
  6. Compile and interpret results of tests and analyses.
  7. Provide and maintain a safe work environment by participating in safety programs, committees, or teams and by conducting laboratory or plant safety audits.
  8. Provide technical support or assistance to chemists or engineers.
CIP education codes
40.050140.050240.050340.050440.050941.030141.0303

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.