Chemist vs Environmental Scientist
Measured from each occupation's own live postings: mostly different jobs wearing similar names. Posted pay favors the environmental scientist by about $14k at the midpoint.
144 open chemist jobs →31 open environmental scientist jobs →
The short answer
On pay, environmental scientists come out ahead by about $14k a year at the midpoint of posted bands: $92k–$115k against $46k–$135k for chemists. These are advertised figures from postings that state a salary, not estimates.
On skills, they are mostly different jobs that happen to share a name or a hallway. The overlap is thin, which is often exactly why people search this pair. The readiness numbers further down say how far a typical profile on each side already reaches into the other, and which direction is the easier move.
Chemist
Environmental Scientist
environmental scientist jobs · careers for environmental scientists
Switching, both directions
Chemist → Environmental Scientist
What environmental scientist postings ask for that chemist profiles usually lack: Project Management, OSHA & Site Safety, Compliance, Contracts.
Environmental Scientist → Chemist
What chemist postings ask for that environmental scientist profiles usually lack: Quality Control, Lab Techniques, GMP & Validation, Operations.
Open chemist roles
Chemist at Mine Safety and Health AdministrationPittsburgh, Pennsylvania$77k–$120k1d agoApply- Trainee de Química o Ingeniería Química at Direct employerESP - Andalusia - Seville1d agoUnlock
- Chemist- Weekend Shift at Direct employerWinston-Salem, US1d agoUnlock
- Exception Writer- Stability & Batch Release Chemist at Direct employerColumbia, US2d agoUnlock
Open environmental scientist roles
- SUPERVISORY ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER-DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY at Department of the Air Force HeadquartersRobins AFB, Georgia$90k–$138k6d agoApply
- Safety, Health, & Environmental (SHE) Manager at Direct employerUSA - Texas - Garland$108k–$162k6d agoUnlock
- Senior Environmental Advisor at Direct employerUnited Kingdom, Edinburgh · Remote6d agoUnlock
- Environmental Manager at Direct employerPhoenixville, US6d agoUnlock
See the whole board for both
175 open roles across the two.
Related comparisons
- Chemist vs Laboratory Technician53% peak overlap
- Economist vs Environmental Scientist31% peak overlap
Which one do your skills favor?
Run the instrument with your own skills and both numbers recompute for you. Free.
Quick answers
Which pays more, chemist or environmental scientist?
On pay, environmental scientists come out ahead by about $14k a year at the midpoint of posted bands: $92k–$115k against $46k–$135k for chemists. These are advertised figures from postings that state a salary, not estimates.
Are chemist and environmental scientist the same job?
On skills, they are mostly different jobs that happen to share a name or a hallway. The overlap is thin, which is often exactly why people search this pair.
Can a chemist become an environmental scientist?
Yes, and the numbers say how far along you already are: a typical chemist profile covers 32% of what environmental scientist postings ask for. The instrument lists the exact skills that make up the rest.
Can an environmental scientist become a chemist?
Going the other way, a typical environmental scientist profile covers 36% of what chemist postings ask for.
How many chemist and environmental scientist jobs are open right now?
Right now our board has 144 chemist openings and 31 environmental scientist openings, each linking to the original posting. The board refreshes every night, so the counts move with the market. Hiring the most chemists at the moment: Direct employer (88), Dottikon Exclusive Synthesis AG (4), Lonza Group (4). For environmental scientists: Direct employer (19), Air Force Materiel Command (2), Department of the Air Force Headquarters (1).
Pay is the posted middle half; readiness is how much of the other role’s skill demand a typical profile covers. Refreshed nightly.