When I graduated with my doctorate in chemistry, it was unfortunately during the great recession. My first post-graduation job was teaching chemistry at a local community college. I was paid less than what a starting grade schoolteacher (with a bachelor's degree) was making. (The one I talked to made $7000 more than me that year.) If that was not bad enough, my contract forced me to teach classes during the summer for adjunct pay (much less than my regular 10 monthly paychecks). I had to drive back and forth 30 miles each day to teach there. My net pay after gas during the summer months ended up being $100 for two months work. Once the economy started to get better a few years later, I jumped ship to a university. It paid better and gave me my summer off to work on my projects. The community college job only required a bachelor's degree in that position, but they wanted me to replace the retiring chemist that had a doctorate. I should have turned that one down.
There are very little jobs for a high science degree in rural America. That is why they suffer from brain drain, as graduates tend to move away to the big cities for their careers. Most chemists head to Kansas City to make their money.
25 Mar 2025, 7:52 am
