What can you do with a Chemistry degree from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?

First, some facts. Of the Chemistry graduates from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:

These are estimates based on AI analysis of 19 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 75%, Chemistry graduates from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have a higher likelihood (+8%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

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Also, after graduating, 36% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Chemistry graduate.

See the details:

• What jobs can you get with a Chemistry degree from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?
• What do Chemistry graduates from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill do 1, 5 or 10 years out?
• How hard is a Chemistry degree from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill? How long does it take?
• How much money can you make with a Chemistry degree from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?
• What are the best colleges for Chemistry?

View a random Chemistry graduate from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and our analysis:

Relevance score: 100% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree. DEGREE INFO Graduated in 2022 from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION Scientific Associate I CSL Seqirus Jul 2022 - Present The position of Scientific Associate I at CSL Seqirus directly utilizes knowledge and skills from the Chemistry degree, particularly in laboratory and research contexts, making it highly relevant. ABOUT Analytical biochemist with experience with LC, MS and electrochemical and biochemical techniques. Familiar with Empower, LIMS, ELN and Veeva systems.

What jobs can you get with a Chemistry degree from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:

• Pharmacy Intern
• Student
• Experimental Lab Scientist
• Human Resources Manager
• Human Resources Director
• Program Coordinator
• Senior Program Associate
• Senior Operations Assistant
• Operations Associate
• Operations Specialist

When looking at the careers of recent chemistry grads from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, you can see a mix of roles. Many of the grads found jobs in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, which definitely align with their chemistry degrees. Positions like Research Chemist, Assistant Scientist, and Analytical Chemist are good examples of where their studies have directly paid off, allowing them to use specific skills and knowledge they acquired during their education. It’s clear that these roles require a solid understanding of chemistry principles and techniques, making them highly relevant to their degree. On the flip side, there are quite a few grads who ended up in roles that are only tangentially related to chemistry, such as project management, operations, and even human resources. These jobs often benefit from analytical thinking but don’t need deep chemistry expertise.

It’s a bit of a mixed bag overall. While some jobs do fully utilize chemistry knowledge, many others put grads in positions where their degree is less of an asset. For those interested in staying close to the core of chemistry, pursuing roles in research or pharmaceutical development seems to be the best path. However, this analysis also highlights that a chemistry degree can still open doors in broader fields. So, for high school students considering a chemistry degree, it’s definitely worth thinking about what kind of career you envision and whether you want to stick closely to the science side or venture into business and management roles where a chemistry background can still be valuable.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Chemistry graduates (this is across all Chemistry graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill):

What kind of career trajectories do Chemistry graduates from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Graduates from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Chemistry tend to follow a variety of career paths, typically starting in roles that are directly related to the sciences and gradually moving into more specialized or leadership positions over the years. For many, their first job after graduation is often in a laboratory setting—think lab technician or research assistant roles. These positions provide hands-on experience and are great stepping stones into more advanced scientific roles, such as associate scientist or analytical chemist. After about five years in the workforce, many graduates seem to be advancing into roles with more responsibility, such as project management or team leadership positions in industries like pharmaceuticals, energy, and health services. This trend suggests a solid foundation in chemistry is paving the way for successful careers that are relevant to their field of study.

However, there are also examples of graduates who move away from traditional chemistry roles over time. Some have transitioned into related fields like consulting or pharmacy, while others have even branched out into unrelated areas such as human resources and education. It looks like while a significant number of graduates find fulfilling roles that make good use of their chemistry background—especially in pharmaceutical or research sectors—there's also a portion that ends up in careers that are not directly tied to chemistry. This diverse trajectory shows the flexibility of a chemistry degree, allowing graduates to tailor their careers based on personal interests and opportunities that arise after graduation.

How hard is a Chemistry degree from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, whether at UNC Chapel Hill or pretty much any school, is going to be challenging but totally doable if you’re willing to put in the effort. You’ll dive into some pretty complex topics like organic chemistry, physical chemistry, and analytical chemistry, and there's a fair bit of math involved too, like calculus and statistics. The coursework can be intense, and lab work is a huge part of it, which means you’ll need to be hands-on and detail-oriented. That said, if you’re passionate about the subject and ready to study hard, it can also be really rewarding. In general, it's more demanding than some majors, but a lot of students find it fascinating and worth the grind!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Chemistry.

Do Chemistry graduates from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill tend to make good money?

Looking at these UNC Chapel Hill Chemistry grads, they seem to be doing okay money-wise. Many of them started in roles that probably didn't pay super well, like lab assistant or technician positions, but they gradually moved up into more senior roles or specialized positions, which usually come with higher salaries. For example, those in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, like pharmacists or scientists, often earn decent incomes, especially with experience. The folks going into the Navy also have some solid benefits and a good salary. Even the ones who are just starting out have taken roles that can lead to respectable earnings. Overall, it looks like most of them are on the right track to have stable financial futures!

What buzzwords do Chemistry graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Chemistry (this is across all Chemistry graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Chemistry?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Chemistry (ordered by the average relevance score of their Chemistry graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College	Score	Count
University of California, Santa Cruz	88	10
University of California, Davis	86	11
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	85	19
Texas A&M University	83	11
Georgia State University	82	11
Purdue University	80	11
Virginia Commonwealth University	80	15
The Ohio State University	79	13
University of Pittsburgh	78	12
The University of Texas at Austin	76	15
Penn State University	75	11
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	75	19
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	73	10
University of Wisconsin-Madison	70	12
University of Washington	67	15
Emory University	62	10
Florida International University	60	10
UC Santa Barbara	46	10
Texas Tech University	42	10