Skip to main content

Chemical Technician

Manufacturing

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 processes, quality control, maintenance of environmental standards, and other work involving experimental, theoretical, or practical application of chemistry and related sciences.

You can enter this career straight after SPM. A degree is optional, not required.

Science

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Conduct chemical or physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative or quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, or gaseous materials.
  2. 2Maintain, clean, or sterilize laboratory instruments or equipment.
  3. 3Monitor product quality to ensure compliance with standards and specifications.
  4. 4Set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses, using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, or microscopy.
  5. 5Prepare chemical solutions for products or processes, following standardized formulas, or create experimental formulas.
  6. 6Compile and interpret results of tests and analyses.
  7. 7Provide and maintain a safe work environment by participating in safety programs, committees, or teams and by conducting laboratory or plant safety audits.
  8. 8Provide technical support or assistance to chemists or engineers.
  9. 9Develop or conduct programs of sampling and analysis to maintain quality standards of raw materials, chemical intermediates, or products.
  10. 10Train new employees on topics such as the proper operation of laboratory equipment.
  11. 11Write technical reports or prepare graphs or charts to document experimental results.
  12. 12Order and inventory materials to maintain supplies.
  13. 13Operate experimental pilot plants, assisting with experimental design.
  14. 14Direct or monitor other workers producing chemical products.
  15. 15Design or fabricate experimental apparatus to develop new products or processes.
  16. 16Develop new chemical engineering processes or production techniques.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • Assayer
  • QC Tech
  • Colorist
  • Gas Tech
  • Lab Tech
  • Perfumer
  • Dye Expert
  • Formulator
  • Lab Tester
  • Lab Worker

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. Typical entry

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. 4

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. 5

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationBachelor's degree

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

ChemistryDraws directly on Chemistry — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
EnglishDraws directly on English Language — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Additional MathematicsDraws directly on Mathematics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
MathematicsDraws directly on Mathematics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Computer Science / ICTDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Chemistry76%

    Chemistry

  • English Language70%

    English

  • Mathematics68%

    Additional MathematicsMathematics

  • Computers and Electronics62%

    Computer Science / ICTElectrical & Electronic Eng. Studies

  • Production and Processing59%

    Design & Technology (RBT)Mechanical Engineering Studies

  • Administrative59%

    Business

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleConstant contact
  • Dealing with customers or the publicNot at all
  • Leading or coordinating othersVery high
  • Handling conflict situationsAlmost never
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
  • Noisy environmentEvery day

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

29%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

0.23%

Of Malaysian Claude conversations, about this kind of work

Measures how much people use Claude for this work, not how many Malaysians do this job — and more AI use can mean people relying on it, not that it's replacing them.

On Malaysia's official shortage list

TalentCorp and ILMIA's Critical Occupations List — evidence of a real hiring shortage in Malaysia right now.

Chemical and Physical Science Technicians · Shortage indicators met: 5/11

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Matriculation

One or two years, heavily subsidised with allowance. Competitive, quota-based entry.

12–24 months

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

Related careers

If this interests you, these are worth a look too.

About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Chemical Technicians

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org

Programmes that lead here

Programmes from the official UPU (KPT) and MQA catalogues whose field of study typically leads to this career. Matched by field, not a job guarantee.

Public universities (UPU)

Private institutions (MQA-accredited)

Search the programme catalogue