First, some facts. Of the Chemistry graduates from University of Washington 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 15 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? On par with the average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 67%, Chemistry graduates from University of Washington have about the same likelihood of finding work in this field as the average graduate across all fields:
And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.
Also, after graduating, 60% 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:
Relevance score: 33%We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree.DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2010 from University of Washington with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Chemistry. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONFiscal Specialist IUniversity of Washington School of Nursing Jun 2010 - Jun 2012 Fiscal Specialist II University of Washington Jun 2012 - Oct 2012 Lead Financial Administrative Specialist University of Washington Oct 2012 - Sep 2015 Fraud Analyst Expedia Group May 2016 - Feb 2018 Fraud Analyst II Expedia Group Feb 2018 - Aug 2018 Fraud Operations Supervisor Expedia Group Aug 2018 - Jan 2020 Sr. Business Analyst Expedia Group Jan 2020 - Apr 2020 Sr. Payments Analyst Expedia Group Apr 2020 - Aug 2021 Senior Program Manager Coastal Community Bank Aug 2021 - Jan 2023 AVP, Senior Manager Process Excellence Coastal Community Bank Jan 2023 - Present ABOUTNo information provided. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
A lot of folks who graduated with a Chemistry degree from the University of Washington have ended up in roles that don’t really tie back to their academic training in a direct way. Many of the jobs listed, like Fiscal Specialist or Operations Manager, lean heavily towards finance and management rather than science. While some analytical skills from chemistry could be useful, these positions typically focus more on general problem-solving and organizational tasks that anyone, regardless of their major, could likely handle. It’s kind of a bummer for someone who spent years studying chemical reactions and lab techniques to find themselves supervising operations at a bank or analyzing fraud for an online company.
However, there are definitely some standout positions that are closely related to chemistry. For instance, jobs like Lab Technician or Research Associate at various companies not only use chemistry knowledge but often require advanced understanding of chemical principles. In these roles, individuals apply their education daily, working on experiments or conducting analyses that directly relate to their degree. It seems like if someone stayed within the realms of academia, research, or specialized labs, they were more likely to find jobs where they could flex their chemistry muscles. But across the board, many graduates are finding themselves in unrelated fields, which suggests that while a Chemistry degree can open doors, sometimes those doors lead to very different kinds of careers than expected!
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 Washington):
When looking at the career trajectories of University of Washington Chemistry graduates, it’s pretty clear that there's a mix of paths. Many graduates start off in roles that are directly related to chemistry, like lab technician positions or research associate roles. For those just out of school, jobs such as lab tech or research assistant seem to be common stepping stones, giving them hands-on experience that’s relevant to their degree. However, as they progress in their careers, there’s a noticeable trend of shifting away from traditional chemistry roles. People often transition into areas like finance, project management, or operations at tech companies, rather than sticking strictly to chemistry-related fields.
After about five to ten years, the landscape varies even more. Some graduates continue to build upon their initial lab experience and move into senior roles in research or biotech, which is great and aligns closely with their studies. However, a significant portion ends up in completely different fields, including business analysis, management, or even education. For every graduate who becomes a senior research associate or a scientist in a biotech company, there’s another who has taken a path into something like financial services or project management at large corporations. So while there are those doing well in chemistry-related careers, many are finding success in areas that you might not expect from a chemistry degree, which can be both encouraging and a little surprising! It suggests that a chemistry degree can offer a lot of flexibility, even if it's not a straight line into the lab.
Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry can be pretty challenging, but it really depends on your interests and strengths. At University of Washington, you’ll dive into some intense subjects like organic chemistry, physical chemistry, and analytical techniques, which can be tough for a lot of students. The coursework often involves a lot of labs, problem-solving, and understanding complex concepts, so if you like math and science, you might find it manageable, though still demanding. It’s not impossible by any means, but be ready to put in some serious study time and stay organized. If you genuinely enjoy chemistry and are willing to put in the effort, you might find it rewarding but definitely not a walk in the park!
Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Chemistry.
So, looking at the job histories of these University of Washington Chemistry grads, it seems like there's a mixed bag when it comes to earnings. The grad who started at the University of Washington and climbed up to become an AVP at a bank likely makes a pretty good salary now, especially since banking roles tend to pay well. On the flip side, the lab technicians and substitutes in schools seem to be on the lower end of the pay scale, which is pretty common in those roles. Overall, while some are definitely raking in the dough, others might be feeling it a bit more in their wallets, so it really depends on where they landed after school!
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 Washington). This may or may not be useful:
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 |