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Chemists

Life, Physical & Social Sciences
Projected change 2024–34: +4.9%
Median annual wage (2024): $84,150
Employment (2024): 87K

United States · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34 (figures for SOC 19-2031 occupational group)

AI exposure in published research

Figures below are reproduced from external datasets without modification. Where a dataset does not cover this occupation, the value is shown as — rather than as zero.

Data provider: OpenAI · "GPTs are GPTs"

Time basis: 2023 baselineex-ante estimate

Scored against GPT-4-generation capability.

Human rater basis
40.0%
GPT-4 rater basis
38.0%

β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.

13 rated tasks · 9 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (69.2%)

Version:
gh-main-0471612
License:
MIT License · Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI

Data provider: Anthropic Economic Index

Time basis: Published 2026-03-05composite index

Observed exposure
26.1%

Theoretical exposure index weighted by measured Claude usage, per the original report's definition.

13 tasks · usage observed in 2 · mean 13.1%

Data: Anthropic Economic Index — labor_market_impacts, CC-BY, https://huggingface.co/datasets/Anthropic/EconomicIndex

AI Changing Work uses Anthropic Economic Index data under CC-BY; Anthropic does not endorse or sponsor this site or its analyses.

Version:
hf-lmi-2026-03
License:
CC BY 4.0
Observation period:
(not applicable to this release)
Model:
(not stated by the source)

2023 prediction vs observation-based index published 2026-03-05

One card (GPTs are GPTs) is a 2023 estimate of what AI could theoretically do; the other (Anthropic Economic Index) is built from observed usage and was published on 2026-03-05 — that is its publication date, not the period it observed. They measure different things, so the two figures cannot be added, averaged, or ranked against each other. The older figure is kept here as a baseline for comparison rather than removed.

Caution: the Anthropic figures — observed exposure and task penetration — take the Eloundou β as one of their inputs. The two sides resembling each other is therefore not evidence that the earlier prediction came true; reading it that way is circular reasoning.

The Anthropic figures are measured on Claude users, who are not the whole economy and not the whole workforce.

The mapping of O*NET tasks and occupation codes was performed by AI Changing Work. The source figures themselves were not modified.

These indices are not forecasts. Which point in time each one belongs to is stated on the badge on its card.

Task Breakdown

  • Analyze chemical data and spectra
  • Review scientific literature and patents
  • Design and conduct laboratory experiments
  • Write research reports and regulatory submissions

About This Occupation

If you work as a Chemists, AI is reshaping your profession. With an automation risk of 28/100 and overall exposure at 36%, this role faces medium transformation. The highest-impact area is analyze chemical data and spectra at 68% automation. This is classified as an 'augment' role. BLS projects +5% growth through 2034. AI-powered computational chemistry and data analysis are accelerating discovery while freeing chemists for creative research.

ISCO-08 classification

Unit group 2113ILO official

Chemists

Definition

ILO original text (English)

Chemists conduct research, improve or develop concepts, theories and operational methods, or apply scientific knowledge relating to chemistry, to develop new knowledge or products and for quality and process control.

Definition & vocabulary source

Source: International Labour Organization (ILO) — ISCO-08 Structure

License: ILO CC BY 4.0

View original

Official occupational information

  • ONET19-2031.00

    Chemists

    Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge.

    View original

Source: O*NET 30.2, U.S. DOL/ETA

License: CC BY 4.0

View original

Frequently Asked Questions

The Anthropic Economic Index puts observed exposure at 26.1%. The OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" rubric puts occupation-level β at 40.0% under human raters. Both figures are reproduced from published research without modification.

They come from two published datasets: the Anthropic Economic Index (labor_market_impacts, CC BY 4.0) and the OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric (MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI). AI Changing Work maps them onto O*NET occupation and task codes and does not calculate exposure scores of its own. AI Changing Work uses Anthropic Economic Index data under CC-BY; Anthropic does not endorse or sponsor this site or its analyses.

No. They are a diagnosis of exposure as measured at the time each source dataset was published. AI Changing Work publishes no prediction of future automation or job displacement for this occupation.

Recent Changes Affecting This Occupation

Mar 2026: New blog post analyzing AI impact on chemical engineering careers with 25% exposure and 18% automation risk data.

[Source: AI Changing Work Blog]