Chemical Technicians vs Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians: $60K vs $53K Median Pay

Chemical Technicians vs Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians: what changes?

Consider Chemical Technicians if you want to conduct chemical and physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative and quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, and gaseous materials for research and development of new products or…. Consider Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians if you would rather assist scientists or engineers in the use of electronic, sonic, or nuclear measuring instruments in laboratory, exploration, and production activities to obtain data indicating resources such as metallic ore…. Both list associate's degree; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Chemical Technicians and Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Chemical Technicians

National median pay (2025): $60,390
Route into the job: Associate's degree; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Conduct chemical or physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative or quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, or gaseous materials.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 7,600

Know before you choose

The work can involve real occupational hazards. Training, protective equipment, and routine safety discipline matter every day.

See the full Chemical Technicians brief

Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians

National median pay (2025): $53,350
Route into the job: Associate's degree; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Test and analyze samples to determine their content and characteristics, using laboratory apparatus or testing equipment.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 1,000

Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (7,300 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians brief

How the national numbers differ

Chemical Technicians has the edge on annual openings

Chemical Technicians is at 7,600 annual openings, compared with 1,000 annual openings for Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians.

Typical preparation differs.

Chemical Technicians: Associate's degree; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians: Associate's degree; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

Chemical Technicians has the edge on median pay

Chemical Technicians is at $60,390, compared with $53,350 for Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians.

Chemical Technicians has the edge on projected growth

Chemical Technicians is at 4.9% projected growth, compared with 3.6% projected growth for Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians.

57.3/ 100

Chemical Technicians

35.8/ 100

Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Chemical Technicians vs Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians

Dimension	Chemical Technicians	Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians
Median pay (2025)	$60,390	$53,350
Pay percentile	48.7 percentile	38.8 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	4.9%	3.6%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	7,600	1,000
2025 employment	60,000	7,300
How you qualify	Associate's degree; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing	Associate's degree; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 4
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.	More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Chemical Technicians brief Read Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians brief

Chemical Technicians vs Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Chemical Technicians

Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians

How the national numbers differ

Chemical Technicians has the edge on annual openings

Typical preparation differs.

Chemical Technicians has the edge on median pay

Chemical Technicians has the edge on projected growth

Chemical Technicians vs Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians

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