Chemistry
4 years- You study
- Organic chemistry, Analytical chemistry
- Jobs
- Chemist, Lab specialist
- Average for the sciences field · Age 25–29
- 6,800SAR
Average monthly pay in the sciences field for Saudi bachelor’s holders, GASTAT Labour Force Survey 2024 (1445–1446 AH)3; many earn less. Pay in a first job is usually lower.
Forecasts published in other countries for the occupation Chemists: roughly stable (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 2026 (Safar – Rabi' al-Awwal 1448 AH); Employment and Social Development Canada, June 2025 · Dhu al-Hijjah 1446 – Muharram 1447 AH)1,2. They are not a forecast for the Saudi market, nor by DataPulse.
Where is Chemistry taught?
Taught at 26 universities: 26 government and 0 private.
Riyadh
- Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic UniversityGovernment · men and women
- King Saud UniversityGovernment · men and women
- Majmaah UniversityGovernment · men and women
- Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz UniversityGovernment · women
- Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman UniversityGovernment · women
- Shaqra UniversityGovernment · men and women
Makkah
- King Abdulaziz UniversityGovernment
- Taif UniversityGovernment · women
- Umm Al-Qura UniversityGovernment · men and women
- University of JeddahGovernment · men and women
Madinah
- Islamic University of MadinahGovernment · men
- Taibah UniversityGovernment · men
Qassim
- Qassim UniversityGovernment · men and women
Eastern Province
- Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal UniversityGovernment
- King Fahd University of Petroleum and MineralsGovernment
- King Faisal UniversityGovernment
- University of Hafr Al BatinGovernment · women
Asir
- King Khalid UniversityGovernment · men and women
- University of BishaGovernment
Tabuk
- University of TabukGovernment
Hail
- University of HailGovernment
Northern Borders
- Northern Border UniversityGovernment · men and women
Jazan
- Jazan UniversityGovernment · men and women
Najran
- Najran UniversityGovernment · men and women
Al-Baha
- Al-Baha UniversityGovernment
Al-Jouf
- Jouf UniversityGovernment · men and women
From university pages, admission guides and the Ministry’s Study in Saudi platform4. Gender is tagged where the university publishes it per programme.
Compare with…
A side-by-side view, not a judgement that one major is better. Figures are for the broad field, so two majors in one field share the same figures. Figures: bachelor’s, both sexes, 2024 (1445–1446 AH)35
| Chemistry | Geology and earth sciences | Marine sciences |
|---|---|---|
| Field in the survey | ||
| Natural sciences, mathematics and statistics | Natural sciences, mathematics and statistics | Natural sciences, mathematics and statistics |
| Length of study | ||
| 4 years | 4 years | 4 years |
| Taught at | ||
| 26 universities | 4 universities | 1 university |
| Men | ||
| Offered | Offered | Offered |
| Women | ||
| Offered | Offered | Not confirmed |
| Holders of the field working | ||
| 88.1% | 88.1% | 88.1% |
| Unemployment in the field | ||
| 11.9% | 11.9% | 11.9% |
| Average wage in the field (SAR) | ||
| 10,627 | 10,627 | 10,627 |
| An occupation of its graduates and generative AI | ||
| minimal exposure | minimal exposure | gradient two of four |
Availability for men and women from university pages and the Ministry’s programmes platform; last checked 24 October 2026 (13 Jumada al-Ula 1448 AH).
What do Chemistry students learn?
The study of materials, what they are made of, and how they react and change.
- Organic chemistry
- Analytical chemistry
- Physical chemistry
- Inorganic chemistry
In Arabic: الكيمياء
How many years is Chemistry?
4 years. Length from the programme page on the university website6; it may differ between universities.
What jobs do Chemistry graduates do?
Examples of graduates’ jobs, not a full or ranked list. A job is an occupation; the major is one route to it:
- Chemist
- Lab specialist
- Quality controller
- Chemistry teacher
Lab or factory work; some factories run shifts.
- Sometimes shifts
- Moderate physical effort
What do Chemistry graduates earn?
GASTAT does not publish pay for each major; this is the average for the “Natural sciences, mathematics and statistics” field among Saudi bachelor’s holders, 2024 (1445–1446 AH)3.
What is unemployment in the sciences field?
Unemployment among Saudi graduates of the field (bachelor’s, all ages)3:
For the whole field, not this major alone. Past measurement, not a forecast.
Official decisions and signals
- The job “Chemist” is only slightly affected by AI. May 2025 (Dhu al-Qa'dah – Dhu al-Hijjah 1446 AH) (occupation, not major)7
References
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment projections for “Chemists” (BLS 19-2031), 2025–2035 (1446–1457 AH).
- Employment and Social Development Canada, Canadian Occupational Projection System, “Chemists” (COPS 21101), 2024–2033 (1445–1455 AH).
- General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), Labour Force Survey: Saudi bachelor’s holders in “Natural sciences, mathematics and statistics”, 2024 (1445–1446 AH).
- Programme pages on university websites, last checked 26 October 2026 (15 Jumada al-Ula 1448 AH).
- International Labour Organization, global index of occupational exposure to generative AI, May 2025 (Dhu al-Qa'dah – Dhu al-Hijjah 1446 AH).
- King Khalid University, Chemistry programme page, last checked 24 October 2026 (13 Jumada al-Ula 1448 AH).
- International Labour Organization · occupation code 2113, May 2025 (Dhu al-Qa'dah – Dhu al-Hijjah 1446 AH).