by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 2 U.S. colleges awarded 9 degrees and certificates in Organic Chemistry. Doctorates are the most popular award, at 78% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $46,311 one year after completing, rising to $74,187 after four years.
A degree in Organic Chemistry involves the study of Organic Chemistry. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Properties And Behavior Of Hydrocarbon Compounds And Their Derivatives. Includes Instruction In Molecular Conversion And Synthesis, Molecular Synthesis And Design, The Molecular Structure Of Living Cells And Systems, The Mutual Reactivity Of Organic And Inorganic Compounds In Combination, The Spectroscopic Analysis Of Hydrocarbon Compounds, And Applications To Specific Problems In Research, Industry, And Health.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, organic chemistry draws strong interest, with 9 degrees awarded annually. 2 colleges award organic chemistry degrees, an average of 4 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 5.
By level, the 9 awards include 2 master’s degrees and 7 doctorates.
Women earned 56% of organic chemistry degrees and certificates in the latest year (5 of 9). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2) and Hispanic or Latino (1), and international students earned 5.
The most common organic chemistry credential is the doctorate: 7 of the 9 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to organic chemistry call most for Reading Comprehension, Writing and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Mathematics and Chemistry, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an organic chemistry degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 7 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to organic chemistry, at 38.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 38.2% |
| Master’s degree | 17.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 12.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 11.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.7% |
| Some college courses | 5.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
6 occupations are related to Organic Chemistry, with an average median salary of $102,057; the strongest outlook belongs to Chemical Technicians, at 11.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Research Coordinator, Clinical Project Manager, Clinical Trials Manager and Clinical Research Director.
The occupation related to organic chemistry with the most projected jobs is Clinical Research Coordinators, at 542,888.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | 398,348 | 7.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Chemical Technicians | 136,017 | 11.6% |
| Chemists | 91,666 | 3.1% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
Organic Chemistry graduates earn a median $46,311 one year after completing their program, $74,187 after four years and $72,061 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $46,311 |
| 4 years | $74,187 |
| 5 years | $72,061 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to organic chemistry is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | $69,509 |
| Chemical Technicians | $60,181 |
| Chemists | $59,779 |
Organic Chemistry has 10 similar majors in the Physical Sciences field, which together award 19,852 degrees a year; the largest are Chemistry, General (18,718), Chemistry, Other (574) and Forensic Chemistry (363). Browse all Physical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Chemistry, General | 18,718 |
| Chemistry, Other | 574 |
| Forensic Chemistry | 363 |
| Polymer Chemistry | 72 |
| Chemical Physics | 44 |
| Analytical Chemistry | 38 |
| Environmental Chemistry | 21 |
| Physical Chemistry | 9 |
| Theoretical Chemistry | 9 |
| Inorganic Chemistry | 4 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.