M.S. in Chemistry

Careers in Chemistry

Program Information

Transform Scientific Skill into Professional Success

Join a Growing Job Market

$86,000+ is the average annual salary for chemists in the U.S, in fields expected to outpace current job growth in the U.S.

Prepare for Advanced Degrees

Strengthen your preparation for PhD, law, or medical programs through rigorous graduate coursework and research.

Lead In-Demand Fields

Across the U.S., there is a need for pharma and biotech research, materials development, chemical process design, computational modeling, environmental chemistry, and patent or regulatory science.

Source: U.S. BLS

Advance Your Science—and Your Career

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A City of Scientists and Industry

Near two U.S. Department of Energy national labs—Argonne and Fermilab—UChicago offers access to world-class facilities, collaborators, and seminars. Chicago is also the Midwest’s largest life sciences cluster and is home to the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park—the largest concentration of quantum activity in North America. You’ll have access to more opportunities here.

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Entrepreneurial Edge

Tap into the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Chicago Booth, and chemistry faculty entrepreneurs to explore venture creation, IP, and commercialization while building your scientific expertise.

Student talking

Support For Your Professional Path

UChicago’s network offers strong career support. You’ll have dedicated PSD Career Services advising, STEM OPT eligibility for international students, a powerful UChicago alumni network, and institutional relationships with other leaders in research like AbbVie, Argonne National Laboratory, and more to help connect you to internship and job opportunities.

Student holding beaker

Career Pathways in Chemistry

Explore Professional Roles

  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Renewable Energy
  • Biotechnology
  • Entrepreneurship / Startups
  • Quantum-related Technologies
  • Pharma & Biotech R&D
  • Chemical Manufacturing
  • Translational & Regulatory Science

Pursue Advanced Studies

The UChicago MS in Chemistry provides a rigorous foundation for advanced degrees including:

  • PhD (in chemistry or related fields)
  • MD
  • JD