Chemical Tester
Snapshot
Chemical testers are responsible for the rapid on-the-spot analysis of steel test pieces incoming from the metal production shop for the purpose of timely corrections of the chemical composition of the liquid metal.
Chemical testers are essential in metal production facilities, performing rapid, on-the-spot analyses of steel samples. Your work directly impacts the chemical composition of the liquid metal, allowing for immediate adjustments and preventing costly errors. This role requires precision, a strong understanding of chemical principles, and the ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure. It’s a critical position that demands attention to detail and a commitment to quality control.
- • Conduct rapid chemical analysis of steel test pieces using established testing procedures.
- • Interpret test results and immediately communicate findings to production teams for corrective action.
- • Maintain accurate records of all tests performed and results obtained.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Figures cover Science and engineering professionals — 274 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Bulgaria, Ireland, Italy, Slovenia and 1 more.
Longest-running shortage: Ireland, 3 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
What these words mean
The four things this section reports
- Reported demand
- Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
- Where it is heading
- Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
- Openings
- Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
- Typical pay
- What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.
A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.
Which way the market leans for you
- In your favour
- More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
- Balanced
- Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
- Competitive
- More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
- Mixed evidence
- Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.
Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.
How this job compares with other jobs in the same country
- Strong
- Among the strongest in that country
- Good
- Stronger than most jobs in that country
- Mixed
- About typical for that country
- Weak
- Weaker than most jobs in that country
This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.
Where these come from
Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.
None of this predicts one person’s chances. It describes a market.
Reported demand · Typical pay · Where it is heading (United States, Ireland, Australia, Malta, United Kingdom)
| Reported demand | Typical pay | Where it is heading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Not reported | $60,390 2025-05 | +3.7% 2024–2034 · BLS 2024-2034 |
| Ireland | Shortage reported ELA/EURES 2025 * | — | +35.5% 2023–2035 · Cedefop 2026 * |
| Australia | Assessed as balanced Jobs and Skills Australia 2025 * | — | — |
| Malta | Shortage reported ELA/EURES 2024 * | — | — |
| United Kingdom | Not reported | £39,668 2025-provisional | — |
* Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS)
Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Open Government Licence v3.0
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Future Outlook for chemical tester
The outlook for chemical tester reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could chemical tester change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
Model-based estimate. Use it as a planning signal, not a guarantee.
Compare this to your profile
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- ensure public safety and security
- work safely with chemicals
- work in metal manufacture teams
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- monitor manufacturing quality standards
- conduct chemical testing on basic metals
- organize chemical reagents
Tasks most exposed to automation
- report well results
- prepare scientific reports
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Advanced Manufacturing
A typical day as a chemical tester
09 09:00 · Morning organize chemical reagents
10 10:30 · Mid-morning conduct chemical testing on basic metals
12 12:00 · Midday ensure public safety and security
14 14:00 · Afternoon work in metal manufacture teams
15 15:30 · Late afternoon work safely with chemicals
17 17:00 · Wrap-up report well results
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
What you need to do this work
The skills, knowledge and tools this role calls for — and the traits and rewards that come with it.
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organize chemical reagents
Organize the handling, addition, and disposal of chemical reagents used to help separate products from raw mineral.
-
handle chemicals
Safely handle industrial chemicals; use them efficiently and ensure that no harm is done to the environment.
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report well results
Document and share well results in a transparent way; communicate results to business partners, auditors, collaborating teams and internal management.
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monitor manufacturing quality standards
Monitor quality standards in manufacturing and finishing process.
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ensure public safety and security
Implement the relevant procedures, strategies and use the proper equipment to promote local or national security activities for the protection of data, people, institutions, and property.
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work in metal manufacture teams
Ability to work confidently within a metal manufacturing group with each doing a part but all subordinating personal prominence to the efficiency of the whole.
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work safely with chemicals
Take the necessary precautions for storing, using and disposing chemical products.
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prepare scientific reports
Prepare reports that describe results and processes of scientific or technical research, or assess its progress. These reports help researchers to keep up to date with recent findings.
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conduct chemical testing on basic metals
Perform examinations and tests on all kinds of metals in order to ensure high quality and chemical resistance.
chemical processes
The relevant chemical processes used in manufacture, such as purification, seperation, emulgation and dispergation processing.
chemical technologies in metal manufacture
The chemical procedures and technologies used in basic metal production.
types of metal manufacturing processes
Metal processes linked to the different types of metal, such as casting processes, heat treatment processes, repair processes and other metal manufacturing processes.
- quality standards
- physics
Path to become a chemical tester
What it typically takes to qualify: education level, where it is a regulated profession, and where to study.
Bachelor's or equivalent level
246 programmes in 23 countries teach the core skills of this job. Plus 31 short courses that build single skills.
A few examples, taught in the language of this page:
Diploma in Process and Chemical Engineering
University College Cork · Ireland
These are 6 of 277.
Sources
- 1. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (collegescorecard.ed.gov), CC BY. Data as at 10/06/2026. Adapted by NexPath.
- 2. Source: South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), All Qualifications and Unit Standards (allqs.saqa.org.za).
- 3. Source: Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (students.kuccps.ac.ke).
- 4. Source: Study in Korea, National Institute for International Education (NIIED) (studyinkorea.go.kr).
- 5. Source: Europass Qualification Dataset Register (European Commission)
- 6. Contains information from MySkillsFuture Course Run accessed on 2026-09-28 from data.gov.sg which is made available under the terms of the Singapore Open Data Licence version 1.0 (https://data.gov.sg/open-data-licence)
Growth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does chemical tester fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
For organisations
The data on this page, working for your students, clients and staff.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of training or background is typically needed to become a chemical tester?
How does the work environment for a chemical tester typically look?
What skills are most important for success as a chemical tester?
How much does Chemical Tester pay in the United States?
Sources: ESCO O*NET ELA/EURES Cedefop BLS Data updated October 3, 2026 About our data