Explore the rankings
Science & Research · Updated Aug 2026

Chemical Technicians

Conduct chemical and physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative and quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, and gaseous materials for research and development of new products or processes, quality control, maintenance of environmental standards, and other work involving experimental, theoretical, or practical application of chemistry and related sciences.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
AI Exposure
60/100
High

How much of this occupation’s work can be materially affected by current AI systems.

Replacement Risk
50/100
Moderate

How likely exposure is to translate into reduced human demand.

Includes provisional estimates for AI adoption pressure and labour-market resilience. How this is measured

Evidence quality
Confidence81/100
Task coverage82%

Confidence reflects task coverage, mapping and capability-evidence quality, and how much of the score rests on provisional inputs.

Task-level evidence

What is driving the score?

Occupation scores are built from the task mix—not a single prediction about a job title.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
TaskImportanceAI impactExposure
Conduct chemical or physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative or quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, or gaseous materials.High
69
Set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses, using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, or microscopy.High
70
Prepare chemical solutions for products or processes, following standardized formulas, or create experimental formulas.High
71
Provide technical support or assistance to chemists or engineers.High
71
Develop or conduct programs of sampling and analysis to maintain quality standards of raw materials, chemical intermediates, or products.High
70
Provide and maintain a safe work environment by participating in safety programs, committees, or teams and by conducting laboratory or plant safety audits.High
72
Write technical reports or prepare graphs or charts to document experimental results.Medium
67
Monitor product quality to ensure compliance with standards and specifications.High
33
Maintain, clean, or sterilize laboratory instruments or equipment.High
24
Train new employees on topics such as the proper operation of laboratory equipment.Medium
68
Design or fabricate experimental apparatus to develop new products or processes.Medium
70
Operate experimental pilot plants, assisting with experimental design.Medium
69
Develop new chemical engineering processes or production techniques.Medium
69
Most exposed

Where AI can do more

Routine, digitized, and highly repeatable tasks face the greatest pressure.

  1. Provide and maintain a safe work environment by participating in safety programs, committees, or teams and by conducting laboratory or plant safety audits.72
  2. Prepare chemical solutions for products or processes, following standardized formulas, or create experimental formulas.71
  3. Provide technical support or assistance to chemists or engineers.71
  4. Set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses, using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, or microscopy.70
Hardest to automate

Where people still matter

These tasks score lowest on automation feasibility—physical presence, judgement, accountability and real-world variability all resist end-to-end automation.

  1. Maintain, clean, or sterilize laboratory instruments or equipment.01
  2. Monitor product quality to ensure compliance with standards and specifications.02
  3. Conduct chemical or physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative or quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, or gaseous materials.03
  4. Set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses, using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, or microscopy.04
  5. Prepare chemical solutions for products or processes, following standardized formulas, or create experimental formulas.05
Where else this work leads

Related occupations

Occupations O*NET links to this one. Relatedness reflects shared work, not a claim that these roles are safer.

See all rankings →
Beyond AI capability

Adoption and labour-market outlook

Structural factors are kept separate from raw capability so you can see what actually resists automation. Adoption pressure and labour-market resilience are still provisional models—25% of this occupation’s replacement-risk weight rests on them.

Human dependency64
Physical dependency57
Adoption pressure64
Labour-market resilience64
Methodology & sources

O*NET 30.3 occupational data interpreted through the JobsVsAI capability, automation and structural-constraint models.

Confidence81/100
CalculatedAug 21, 2026
Read methodology →