Chemist Jobs in Tennessee
Chemist jobs in Tennessee are active across pharmaceutical manufacturing, agricultural chemistry, and materials science, with openings at every level from entry-level lab technician to senior research chemist. Nashville, Memphis, and Chattanooga are the state's largest hiring centers, anchored by employers such as Eastman Chemical, Pfizer, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The most in-demand specialties are analytical chemistry, process chemistry, and quality control. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 9+ Chemist jobs
Location: Oak Ridge, TN
Job Title: Chemist
Career Level: Associate
Job Specialty: Analytical Chemistry
What You'll Do
- Under the direction of the manager, supervisor and senior staff, conducts routine and non-routine analysis of samples to identify and quantify analytes of interest.
- Perform all aspects of analysis: including sample preparation, sample analysis, preparation of standards, calibration and standardization of instrumentation, routine, preventative, diagnostic, and quality control maintenance, and data review.
- Interface with customers and program managers to provide technical guidance on available analytical options and capabilities relevant to submitted analysis requests.
- Works with laboratory manager to review and modernize current procedures as well as develop new methods and procedures for analytical services as technologies, requirements, and customer requirements evolve.
- Requires frequent use and application of technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, and techniques.
What You Can Expect
- Meaningful work and unique opportunities to support missions vital to national and global security
- Top-notch, dedicated colleagues
- Generous pay and benefits with a stable organization
- Career advancement and professional development programs
- Work-life balance fostered through flexible work options and wellness initiatives
Minimum Job Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant science/engineering discipline.
Preferred Job Requirements
- Two (2) years of relevant experience.
- Skilled in data analysis, data processing, and data manipulation within multiple databases, spreadsheets and custom software applications.
- Good organizational and analytical skills as well as excellent problem solving skills and ability to learn and develop innovative ways to prepare and analyze for trace impurities.
- Requires the frequent use and application of technical standards, complex analytical equipment, principles, theories, concepts, and techniques.
- Experience in wet chemistry, ion chromatography, gas chromatography and thermal decomposition techniques is desirable.
Why Y-12?
Notes
The minimum education and experience for the lowest career level in the job posting range are listed under Minimum Job Requirements. Successful candidates hired into a higher career level than the minimum in the range must meet the requirements listed in the job leveling charts for the career level into which they are being hired.
If a range of Career Levels is posted, i.e., Senior Associate to Senior Specialist, internal applicants already in one of the Career Levels would come across at their current Career Level. Internal applicants currently in a lower level Career Level would move to the lowest posted Career Level.
Requires a Q clearance; however all qualified candidates will be considered regardless of their current clearance status. The ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Energy Q clearance is required.
This position may require entry into the Material Access Areas (MAA) and participation in the Human Reliability Program (10 C.F.R. Part 712), which requires successful competition of a DOE counterintelligence evaluation and may include a counterintelligence-scope polygraph examination.
This position may be categorized as a “designated position” identified by 10 C.F.R. Part 709, requiring successful completion of a DOE counterintelligence evaluation that may include a counterintelligence-scope polygraph examination.
CNS is a drug-free workplace. Candidates accepting a job offer will be required to pass a pre-placement physical, drug screening and background investigation. As an employee, you may be required to receive and maintain a security clearance from the United States Department of Energy in order to meet eligibility requirements for access to sensitive information or matter. U.S. citizenship is a requirement for security clearance applicants. All employees are subject to being randomly selected for drug testing without advance notification.
CNS is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on merit and without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status or disability.
Location: Oak Ridge, TN
Job Title: Chemist
Career Level: Associate
Job Specialty: Analytical Chemistry
What You'll Do
- Under the direction of the manager, supervisor and senior staff, conducts routine and non-routine analysis of samples to identify and quantify analytes of interest.
- Perform all aspects of analysis: including sample preparation, sample analysis, preparation of standards, calibration and standardization of instrumentation, routine, preventative, diagnostic, and quality control maintenance, and data review.
- Interface with customers and program managers to provide technical guidance on available analytical options and capabilities relevant to submitted analysis requests.
- Works with laboratory manager to review and modernize current procedures as well as develop new methods and procedures for analytical services as technologies, requirements, and customer requirements evolve.
- Requires frequent use and application of technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, and techniques.
What You Can Expect
- Meaningful work and unique opportunities to support missions vital to national and global security
- Top-notch, dedicated colleagues
- Generous pay and benefits with a stable organization
- Career advancement and professional development programs
- Work-life balance fostered through flexible work options and wellness initiatives
Minimum Job Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant science/engineering discipline.
Preferred Job Requirements
- Two (2) years of relevant experience.
- Skilled in data analysis, data processing, and data manipulation within multiple databases, spreadsheets and custom software applications.
- Good organizational and analytical skills as well as excellent problem solving skills and ability to learn and develop innovative ways to prepare and analyze for trace impurities.
- Requires the frequent use and application of technical standards, complex analytical equipment, principles, theories, concepts, and techniques.
- Experience in wet chemistry, ion chromatography, gas chromatography and thermal decomposition techniques is desirable.
Why Y-12?
Notes
The minimum education and experience for the lowest career level in the job posting range are listed under Minimum Job Requirements. Successful candidates hired into a higher career level than the minimum in the range must meet the requirements listed in the job leveling charts for the career level into which they are being hired.
If a range of Career Levels is posted, i.e., Senior Associate to Senior Specialist, internal applicants already in one of the Career Levels would come across at their current Career Level. Internal applicants currently in a lower level Career Level would move to the lowest posted Career Level.
Requires a Q clearance; however all qualified candidates will be considered regardless of their current clearance status. The ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Energy Q clearance is required.
This position may require entry into the Material Access Areas (MAA) and participation in the Human Reliability Program (10 C.F.R. Part 712), which requires successful competition of a DOE counterintelligence evaluation and may include a counterintelligence-scope polygraph examination.
This position may be categorized as a “designated position” identified by 10 C.F.R. Part 709, requiring successful completion of a DOE counterintelligence evaluation that may include a counterintelligence-scope polygraph examination.
CNS is a drug-free workplace. Candidates accepting a job offer will be required to pass a pre-placement physical, drug screening and background investigation. As an employee, you may be required to receive and maintain a security clearance from the United States Department of Energy in order to meet eligibility requirements for access to sensitive information or matter. U.S. citizenship is a requirement for security clearance applicants. All employees are subject to being randomly selected for drug testing without advance notification.
CNS is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on merit and without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status or disability.
See All 9 Chemist Jobs in Tennessee
Find roles in Tennessee that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Chemist JobsChemist Jobs by City in Tennessee
Where Tennessee roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Chemist Job Market in Tennessee
A snapshot from current Tennessee openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
What Tennessee Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in chemist jobs across Tennessee.
- Bachelor's degree or higher in chemistry, biochemistry, or a closely related scientific field
- Hands-on experience with analytical instruments such as HPLC, GC-MS, or NMR spectrometry
- Familiarity with GMP or GLP standards as required in pharmaceutical or regulated laboratory environments
- Proficiency in data analysis software and laboratory information management systems
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for documenting procedures and reporting results
- Ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams across R&D, QA, or manufacturing departments
Chemist Jobs in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a chemist in Tennessee?
Tennessee does not require a state-issued license specifically for chemists, so the primary path is earning a bachelor's degree or higher in chemistry or a related field from an accredited institution. Many Tennessee employers, particularly in pharmaceutical manufacturing and industrial chemistry, expect coursework in analytical or organic chemistry backed by laboratory experience. Professional certification through the American Chemical Society, such as the Certified Chemist designation, strengthens a candidate's profile and is recognized by major Tennessee employers.
How much do chemists make in Tennessee?
Chemists in Tennessee earn a median of about $87,930 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $48,530 for the lowest 10% to over $132,630 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire chemists in Tennessee?
Employers hiring chemists in Tennessee right now include IXS Coatings, Henpen Corporation, and Revance Therapeutics, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Tennessee's concentration of pharmaceutical plants, petrochemical facilities, and materials science companies means demand is consistent across both the private sector and research institutions throughout the state.
Which Tennessee cities have the most chemist jobs?
Lebanon, Oak Ridge, and Tennessee are the Tennessee cities with the most chemist openings. Nashville's pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector, Memphis's logistics-connected manufacturing base, and Chattanooga's materials and specialty chemical industry, anchored by Eastman Chemical's regional footprint, together account for the large majority of postings across the state.
Are there remote chemist jobs in Tennessee?
Yes, but they're rare. Chemistry is largely a hands-on, laboratory-based profession, so most roles require on-site work with instruments and regulated materials. About 0% of chemist openings tied to Tennessee are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, which is low relative to desk-based fields. The positions most likely to carry remote or hybrid options are regulatory affairs, technical writing, and data-focused quality assurance roles.
How can I get hired as a chemist in Tennessee with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying to quality control technician or laboratory analyst roles, which Tennessee pharmaceutical and food manufacturing companies post frequently for candidates with a chemistry degree and limited work history. Eastman Chemical and other large Tennessee manufacturers run co-op and internship programs that convert to full-time hires. A strong undergraduate research portfolio, familiarity with GMP documentation, or an American Chemical Society student affiliate credential all give a first-time applicant a concrete edge over other new graduates.
Where can I find and apply to chemist jobs in Tennessee?
You can find and apply to chemist jobs in Tennessee on Migrate Mate, which lists current Tennessee openings from employers actively hiring in the state. Find roles that fit your experience and specialty and apply directly to each one.
See All 9 Chemist Jobs in Tennessee
Find roles in Tennessee that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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