Chemist Jobs in North Carolina
Chemist jobs in North Carolina are active and concentrated across the pharmaceutical, agricultural sciences, and specialty materials sectors, with openings at every level from entry-level lab technician roles through senior research scientists. The Research Triangle area of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill anchors most of the hiring, with additional demand in Charlotte and Greensboro, where manufacturers and contract research organizations maintain long-term operations. Employers with an established presence hiring chemists across North Carolina include Pfizer, BASF, and Thermo Fisher Scientific, with the strongest demand in analytical chemistry, quality control, and formulation chemistry. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Chemist JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 30+ Chemist jobs
Clariant is seeking a Senior Chemist to join our Industrial Applications technical team in Mt. Holly, North Carolina, with a primary focus on Paints and Coatings. In this customer-facing role, you will lead application development, identify new product opportunities, and deliver technical solutions that address customer needs and support business growth. Working closely with Sales, Marketing, and global R&D teams, you will translate customer challenges into development projects, evaluate specialty additives in coating formulations, and support the commercialization of new solutions. Our portfolio includes wetting and dispersing agents, emulsifiers, surfactants, defoamers, surface modifiers, and other functional additives that improve coating processing, application, appearance, and performance. Interested in joining our team? Apply today—we look forward to hearing from you!
Responsibilities
- Lead application development projects focused on paints and coatings, translating customer requirements and market needs into technical solutions and new product opportunities.
- Design and execute laboratory experiments to evaluate coating performance, optimize formulations, and demonstrate the benefits of Clariant’s specialty additives.
- Benchmark Clariant products against competitive alternatives and generate technical data to support product differentiation and recommendations.
- Serve as a key technical contact for customers and commercial teams, independently investigating formulation and application challenges and recommending solutions.
- Partner with Sales and Marketing on customer visits, technical demonstrations, product evaluations, and customer trials to support new business development.
- Collaborate with global R&D teams to develop, evaluate, and adapt products for the Americas market and support commercialization.
- Independently manage technical projects from initial customer requirements through laboratory development, validation, and commercialization support.
- Coordinate laboratory testing with technicians and other team members, and provide technical guidance and mentoring to less experienced laboratory personnel.
- Present technical findings to customers and internal stakeholders, and contribute to product positioning, technical literature, customer presentations, and industry events.
- Monitor coatings technologies, regulatory trends, and emerging customer needs, and improve laboratory methods, application testing capabilities, and technical workflows.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in chemistry or a related scientific field.
- Minimum of five years of relevant experience in the paints and coatings industry, preferably in application development, performance testing, or customer-facing technical service; seven to ten years preferred.
- Strong knowledge of coatings chemistry, formulation principles, application methods, performance testing, and characterization techniques. Experience with waterborne, architectural, or industrial coatings and functional additives such as surfactants, wetting agents, dispersants, or emulsifiers preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to independently manage technical development projects, troubleshoot customer challenges, and communicate technical recommendations.
- Strong collaboration and presentation skills required; experience supporting commercialization, working with international R&D teams, or mentoring junior technical personnel preferred.
- Ability to work on-site in Mt. Holly, North Carolina, in a hands-on laboratory environment and travel up to 30%, including customer visits and occasional international travel.
What´s in it for you?
- Medical/Dental/Vision Insurances
- Paid Holidays
- PTO time with a carry-over benefit
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Wellness Program
- EAP Program
- Spending and Savings Accounts
- Life/AD&D Insurance
- Disability Insurance
- Pet Insurance
- Online discount Mall
- Auto/Home Insurance
- Identity Theft Protection
- Legal Services Plan
Mahogany McClurkin
Talent Acquisition Partner, NORAM
Mahogany.mcclurkin@clariant.com
Clariant is a Swiss-based global specialty chemicals company, which is concentrated and developed in three business units: Care Chemicals, Catalysts and Adsorbents & Additives. Our purpose as a company is reflected in our tagline "Greater chemistry - between people and planet", which considers the principles of customer, innovation and people orientation, as well as a focus on creating solutions to foster sustainability in different industries by offering high-value and high-performance chemical specialties.
At Clariant, we believe that diversity, equity and inclusion are essential to our success. We strive to cultivate a workplace where all employees feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued. Our diverse workforce allows us to tap into a wealth of perspectives, experiences, and capabilities that drive innovation. We are committed to ensuring equal opportunities for professional growth and advancement across all levels of the organization, based on objective criteria and regardless of gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, protected veteran status ,age, disability, sexual orientation or other aspects of diversity in accordance with the relevant governing laws. By bringing together talented individuals with diverse backgrounds and viewpoints, we gain the agility to meet the evolving needs of our global customers and communities. Join our team to help advance our mission of fostering a culture of belonging where everyone can thrive.
Clariant Corporation is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected Veteran status, or any other protected class as established by law.
- Learn more about Clariant
- Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
Clariant is seeking a Senior Chemist to join our Industrial Applications technical team in Mt. Holly, North Carolina, with a primary focus on Paints and Coatings. In this customer-facing role, you will lead application development, identify new product opportunities, and deliver technical solutions that address customer needs and support business growth. Working closely with Sales, Marketing, and global R&D teams, you will translate customer challenges into development projects, evaluate specialty additives in coating formulations, and support the commercialization of new solutions. Our portfolio includes wetting and dispersing agents, emulsifiers, surfactants, defoamers, surface modifiers, and other functional additives that improve coating processing, application, appearance, and performance. Interested in joining our team? Apply today—we look forward to hearing from you!
Responsibilities
- Lead application development projects focused on paints and coatings, translating customer requirements and market needs into technical solutions and new product opportunities.
- Design and execute laboratory experiments to evaluate coating performance, optimize formulations, and demonstrate the benefits of Clariant’s specialty additives.
- Benchmark Clariant products against competitive alternatives and generate technical data to support product differentiation and recommendations.
- Serve as a key technical contact for customers and commercial teams, independently investigating formulation and application challenges and recommending solutions.
- Partner with Sales and Marketing on customer visits, technical demonstrations, product evaluations, and customer trials to support new business development.
- Collaborate with global R&D teams to develop, evaluate, and adapt products for the Americas market and support commercialization.
- Independently manage technical projects from initial customer requirements through laboratory development, validation, and commercialization support.
- Coordinate laboratory testing with technicians and other team members, and provide technical guidance and mentoring to less experienced laboratory personnel.
- Present technical findings to customers and internal stakeholders, and contribute to product positioning, technical literature, customer presentations, and industry events.
- Monitor coatings technologies, regulatory trends, and emerging customer needs, and improve laboratory methods, application testing capabilities, and technical workflows.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in chemistry or a related scientific field.
- Minimum of five years of relevant experience in the paints and coatings industry, preferably in application development, performance testing, or customer-facing technical service; seven to ten years preferred.
- Strong knowledge of coatings chemistry, formulation principles, application methods, performance testing, and characterization techniques. Experience with waterborne, architectural, or industrial coatings and functional additives such as surfactants, wetting agents, dispersants, or emulsifiers preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to independently manage technical development projects, troubleshoot customer challenges, and communicate technical recommendations.
- Strong collaboration and presentation skills required; experience supporting commercialization, working with international R&D teams, or mentoring junior technical personnel preferred.
- Ability to work on-site in Mt. Holly, North Carolina, in a hands-on laboratory environment and travel up to 30%, including customer visits and occasional international travel.
What´s in it for you?
- Medical/Dental/Vision Insurances
- Paid Holidays
- PTO time with a carry-over benefit
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Wellness Program
- EAP Program
- Spending and Savings Accounts
- Life/AD&D Insurance
- Disability Insurance
- Pet Insurance
- Online discount Mall
- Auto/Home Insurance
- Identity Theft Protection
- Legal Services Plan
Mahogany McClurkin
Talent Acquisition Partner, NORAM
Mahogany.mcclurkin@clariant.com
Clariant is a Swiss-based global specialty chemicals company, which is concentrated and developed in three business units: Care Chemicals, Catalysts and Adsorbents & Additives. Our purpose as a company is reflected in our tagline "Greater chemistry - between people and planet", which considers the principles of customer, innovation and people orientation, as well as a focus on creating solutions to foster sustainability in different industries by offering high-value and high-performance chemical specialties.
At Clariant, we believe that diversity, equity and inclusion are essential to our success. We strive to cultivate a workplace where all employees feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued. Our diverse workforce allows us to tap into a wealth of perspectives, experiences, and capabilities that drive innovation. We are committed to ensuring equal opportunities for professional growth and advancement across all levels of the organization, based on objective criteria and regardless of gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, protected veteran status ,age, disability, sexual orientation or other aspects of diversity in accordance with the relevant governing laws. By bringing together talented individuals with diverse backgrounds and viewpoints, we gain the agility to meet the evolving needs of our global customers and communities. Join our team to help advance our mission of fostering a culture of belonging where everyone can thrive.
Clariant Corporation is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected Veteran status, or any other protected class as established by law.
- Learn more about Clariant
- Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
See All 30 Chemist Jobs in North Carolina
Find roles in North Carolina that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Chemist JobsChemist Jobs by City in North Carolina
Where North Carolina roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Chemist Job Market in North Carolina
A snapshot from current North Carolina openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
What North Carolina Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in chemist jobs across North Carolina.
- Bachelor's degree or higher in chemistry, biochemistry, or a closely related field
- Hands-on laboratory experience with analytical instrumentation such as HPLC or GC-MS
- Familiarity with Good Laboratory Practices and FDA or EPA regulatory standards
- Experience with quality control or quality assurance processes in a regulated environment
- Strong documentation skills and proficiency with laboratory information management systems
- Ability to work independently and collaborate within cross-functional research or production teams
Chemist Jobs in North Carolina: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a chemist in North Carolina?
North Carolina does not require a state-issued license specifically for chemists, so the path begins with a bachelor's degree in chemistry or a related science from an accredited program. Employers in regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals and agriculture typically expect candidates to understand Good Laboratory Practices and relevant federal standards. Graduate education or professional certifications from the American Chemical Society strengthen competitiveness, particularly for research roles in the Research Triangle.
How much do chemists make in North Carolina?
Chemists in North Carolina earn a median of about $82,620 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $58,170 for the lowest 10% to over $132,020 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire chemists in North Carolina?
Employers hiring chemists in North Carolina right now include Eurofins, MedPharm, and Clariant, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. North Carolina's pharmaceutical corridor in the Research Triangle and its strong agricultural chemicals industry mean demand tends to be sustained year-round across both large manufacturers and contract research organizations.
Which North Carolina cities have the most chemist jobs?
Durham, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem have the most chemist openings in North Carolina. The Research Triangle concentration around Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill reflects the density of pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and university-affiliated research institutions there, while Charlotte and Greensboro attract chemists through manufacturing, materials testing, and food science operations headquartered in those metros.
Are there remote chemist jobs in North Carolina?
Yes, but they're rare. Most chemistry roles require hands-on laboratory work that cannot be done remotely. About 0% of chemist openings tied to North Carolina are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the field's inherently on-site nature. The sub-areas most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements are regulatory affairs, data analysis, and technical writing positions within larger North Carolina-based chemical and pharmaceutical organizations.
How can I get hired as a chemist in North Carolina with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly to quality control associate or laboratory technician roles at pharmaceutical manufacturers and contract research organizations in the Research Triangle, which regularly hire recent graduates. Companies like Pfizer and Thermo Fisher Scientific run structured new-graduate programs and co-op pipelines connected to North Carolina State University and UNC Chapel Hill. Earning an American Chemical Society student membership and completing an undergraduate research thesis or co-op placement gives candidates a measurable edge with North Carolina employers screening entry-level applicants.
Where can I find and apply to chemist jobs in North Carolina?
You can find and apply to chemist jobs in North Carolina on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Search the listings to see roles that match your experience, specialty, and preferred location within North Carolina, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 30 Chemist Jobs in North Carolina
Find roles in North Carolina that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Chemist Jobs