What Jobs can You get after Studying Chemistry in 2025? One can’t choose Chemistry as their main subject in Class XI because you need to excel in all the subjects, particularly Physics-Chemistry-Maths or Physics-Chemistry-Biology for Science stream, to have a competitive edge in pursuing any career thereafter. You may opt for Chemistry as your major subject in your BSc or Integrated MSc after Class XII. There are plenty of opportunities with a specialisation in Chemistry. One can apply for jobs with BSc with Chemistry in various laboratories medical labs, testing labs, industrial labs, manufacturing firms, petroleum companies, forensic research, healthcare providers, biotechnology firms, waste-water treatment/ utilities sector, cosmetic companies, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies. One can explore job opportunities in private firms such as Dabur, Hindustan Lever, Dr Reddy’s lab, Ranbaxy, etc., and also in public sectors (eg: OIL, Bharat Petroleum, BARC, ONGC, etc.).
The exact salary figures will depend on several factors such as your qualifications and experience, job openings. and demands, location, the nature of job, etc. So, it is not possible to give a minimum salary figure. However, with a competitive job market in the present world, a job secured just with a BSc degree doesn’t fetch a high salary or a designation. A higher degree (MSc) will help you become eligible for a lot more jobs besides getting a higher rank/designation and better pay. For instance, most of the scientist level entries in DRDO require a B’Tech in Engineering or MSc in Chemistry/Physics type of background with a minimum 50 per cent to 60 per cent grades depending on the job opening. One can then clear national level exams such as GATE, NET, etc., whose scores are used as an eligibility criterion in several job openings.
What are the further Study options after doing BSc in Chemistry?
The most obvious option for higher studies would be to pursue an MSc and then go for a PhD, if you’re inclined towards research and careers related to research, either in academia or in the industry. You may want to pursue an MSc from a university/institute which has good facilities for research (eg: labs, equipment, etc.), where the faculty members are experts in their domain and are known to provide excellent guidance, and which will provide you sufficient exposure besides a competitive and ambitious peer group. To pursue a master’s degree abroad, one typically needs four years of academics after Class XII. So, with a three-year BSc degree, it is usually difficult to get admission into a master’s degree abroad, especially in the US. The best move would be to try getting admission into one of the good institutes in India, and then try for a PhD abroad, in case you wish to.
As you climb up the ladder of academia, you’ll gain more awareness and exposure regarding the scope and opportunities in your domain. There are two things to keep in mind – firstly, you will need to decide carefully and with proper information as to which area of specialisation within Chemistry you would like to take up in your MSc/PhD level. This depends on your interest and future scope (for research and job). Secondly, getting a conference/journal publication during MSc gives you a significant boost to getting admission into a top-ranked place for PhD.
You can Apply for a Job in OIL
The Graduate Aptitude Test (GATE) is open for many non-engineering subjects as well, including Chemistry. If you clear the GATE, you will be eligible for admission into the master’s programme at several institutes, including IITs and IISc, Bangalore. Some of these institutes may also have an additional interview for screening, but several do not have such a thing. For preparation, the first and foremost thing to do would be to complete your BSc syllabus thoroughly with special focus on topics that you are weak in. Merely having theoretical knowledge is not good enough, if you do not apply them to problems that have already been asked in previous GATE exams. You can find several previous years’ question papers online and we strongly urge you to take a look at them and take stock of your present aptitude and then prepare accordingly.
You can get to work in a Forensic Laboratory
There are diploma courses offered by institutions like the University of Bombay, Jamia Millia Islamia, etc., in Forensic Science. After this, one can do a master’s in Forensic Science from several places in India, some of which are Amity University, Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science (LNJN-NICFS), in Delhi, etc. Some of these institutes also allow one to go for a master’s course directly after their bachelor’s without the need of an auxilary diploma. Some of the various specialisations in this branch are: forensic biology, forensic serology, forensic chemistry, forensic toxicology, etc.
Some other institutes of repute where a student can study are:
- Dr Harisingh Gour University, Madhya Pradesh (MSc in Forensic Science and Forensic Toxicology)
- Forensic Sciences Department, Anna University, Chennai (PG diploma in Criminology and Forensic Science)
- University of Delhi, Department of Anthropology (Certificate course in Forensic Science)
- Dr BR Ambedkar University, Department of Forensic Science, Agra (MSc in Forensic Science)
- Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Delhi
Job prospects after such a course is immense now. There is hardly any need to mention the importance that forensic sciences play in solving crimes or towards a speedy judicial system. One can get into several different jobs depending on the specialisation that one chooses. For instance, all states have forensic departments which work closely with law enforcement. All the major law enforcement agencies require the expertise of people skilled in forensic sciences on a day-to-day basis, so there is a huge job market in that sector. Investigative agencies, including both private and public ones, need the services of forensic experts, and this can also be an exciting way to earn a living. Forensic scientists can work in places such as areas of insurance claims, document registrations, and forgery detections.