◆ Chemistry

What a sample collection technician
really does.

20 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.

20evidenced tasks
36,190in the US (2025)
$74,510median pay / year
10systems it runs on
See the 20 tasks ↓Open in the atlasThe full career map →
This is what one task looks like here
Record test procedures and results
After each callout, complete the test procedure sheet noting sample ID…3 sources agree

The shape of the day

tap a movement to see its tasks

Which one is you, right now?

Pick the moment · no score, no sign-up
Which moment is you right now?
Whichever you pick, the task behind it opens below.

The work, task by task

20 tasks
Hands on the work15
Operate equipment used in motor vehicles+
Operate the vehicle-mounted sampling rig on Truck 12 for the downtown route, verify pump pressures and sensor outputs meet the pre-run checklist, troubleshoot any fault codes, and log run-time data and corrective actions before shift end.
escoonet2 agree
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Use a computer+
Log into the test station, open the daily sample manifest, verify IDs and collection times against the chain-of-custody, flag any missing entries, and generate the summary spreadsheet for shift handover by 07:00 tomorrow.
esco
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Liaise with engineers+
Call lead engineer Marco Ruiz, describe the anomalous sample contamination in bay C, share the measured readings and photos, ask which collection point to isolate next, and schedule a joint inspection tomorrow at 09:00.
esco
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Read engineering drawings+
Pull the latest assembly drawing for test fixture A12, confirm the probe locations and tolerances match the sampling procedure, note any deviations on the drawing, and email the marked copy to quality for approval before next run.
esco
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
CAE software+
Run the simulation script on the component load case, record the strain-time outputs for the three sampling nodes, compare against the acceptance limits, and save the results table to the project folder for engineer review.
esco
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Engineering principles+
Draft a one-page note explaining why the current sampling frequency meets fatigue life calculations, reference the material properties and load cycles, and send it to engineering with a request for sign-off by Friday.
esco
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Vehicle manufacturing process+
Walk the vehicle assembly line with the process map, record where samples are taken, note any deviations from specified torque and weld parameters, photograph instances and compile a corrective action list for production by end of day.
esco
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Fabricate new or modify existing prototype components or fixtures.+
Build or modify a prototype mounting fixture on the bench so the sampler fits the new clamp, document dimensions and fastener types, and hand the updated part and a one-sheet fabrication note to fabrication by Wednesday morning.
onet
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Watch and assess3
Keep the record1
Grow the practice1

What the work runs on

named inside the evidenced tasks
7 tasksMicrosoft Wordcompose clear procedure narratives and attach notes or screenshots for each sample recordOpen its task library →
4 tasksData acquisitioncapture and export sensor readouts to include with the procedure sheet
3 tasksMicrosoft Excelrecord inspection findings, attach photos and generate parts list for maintenance plannerOpen its task library →
3 tasksAutodesk AutoCAD Mechanicalopen and examine detailed mechanical drawings and extract dimensions and features for test planning
2 tasksdiagnosticrun electronic system checks and read fault codes during inspections
2 tasksA&D Technology iTestinterfaces with and monitors vehicle-mounted test equipment and logs sensor outputs for runs
2 tasksIBM Notesrecord the correspondence and attach photos to the lab ticket for traceability
2 tasksAutodesk Inventorcreate or edit the 3D part and generate precise dimensions and manufacturing drawings for the new fixture
Browse every evidenced software task →

The same task, four heights

this page is height one
ExecuteDo today's task, with fewer mistakesyou are here → ImproveMake it easy for the next person to acceptin the atlas → DecideWork out the right move when it is unclearin the atlas → BecomeLearn the pattern so it stops coming backin the atlas →

Can AI actually do this job?

the honest answer

It can

where it genuinely helps
  • Explain the theory behind the work
  • Draft, tidy and structure your writing
  • Rehearse a hard conversation before you have it
  • Build a study plan that fits your gaps

It cannot

where it stops, completely
  • Be in the room where a sample collection technician actually works
  • Carry the responsibility when the call is wrong — that weight stays yours
  • Notice what no one wrote down: the hesitation, the thing left unsaid
  • Live with the outcome

What the work pays

two countries, two different measures

United States

this exact occupation · BLS 2025
  • $74,510 a year — the middle: half earn more, half earn less
  • The lowest tenth earn near $48,400; the top tenth near $106,050
  • 36,190 people employed in this occupation

Where the evidence lives

open any of it yourself
O*NETThe US Department of Labor's own record of this job6 of these tasks ESCOThe European skills and occupations register16 of these tasks Job descriptionsReal postings, in the wild3 of these tasks US Bureau of Labor StatisticsPay and employment, by occupation2025 figures UK NOS EUSDSG3.42Inspect and test mechanical systems, equipment and componentsnational standard UK NOS SEMAUT3139Setting up and testing prototype vehicle data acquisition systemsnational standard

Close to this work

12 nearby
ChemistryElectrochemist28 evidenced tasks ChemistryPharma Formulation Scientist26 evidenced tasks START ChemistryChemical Sales Engineer26 evidenced tasks ChemistryCement Concrete Lab Technician24 evidenced tasks ChemistryProcess Engineer23 evidenced tasks ChemistryPaint Technologist22 evidenced tasks ChemistryWastewater Technician22 evidenced tasks ChemistryDistillation Operator21 evidenced tasks

Questions people actually ask

You spend most of the day collecting and recording test data from vehicles or parts. That includes operating diagnostic tools and data-acquisition equipment, running test procedures, and noting results in Microsoft Word or IBM Notes.

You also set up or modify fixtures, help fabricate prototype parts, and meet with engineers to review test specs or suggest design changes. Expect hands-on time with vehicles, computers, and periodic shop clean-up or safety checks.

Common tools are data-acquisition hardware and diagnostic systems plus Microsoft Excel and Word for records. Companies often use A&D Technology iTest for automated test sequences and SAP for inventory or work orders.

Design and drawing work uses Autodesk Inventor or AutoCAD Mechanical; engineers often use PTC Creo Parametric. You’ll also use basic CAE tools and read engineering drawings regularly.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2025 there were 36,190 employed in this broader group with a median wage of $74,510 per year. The lowest tenth earned about $48,400 and the top tenth about $106,050 per year.

Use BLS numbers as a guide; actual pay varies by region, employer (automotive supplier vs. OEM), and your experience with specific systems like SAP or A&D iTest.

Compared with an automotive mechanic, this role focuses more on controlled testing and data recording than on routine maintenance or repairs. You’ll follow test procedures, run diagnostics, and record results rather than fix customer cars.

Compared with a test engineer, you do more hands-on sample collection and fixture setup than design of experiments or deep CAE analysis. You collaborate with engineers and recommend changes, but you usually don’t lead design simulations.

AI can help draft test reports or parse large Excel files, but don’t use it to replace controlled test records. Keep original instrument logs from data-acquisition systems and save signed records in Microsoft Word or IBM Notes. AI suggestions must be checked against raw data.

Never use AI to change calibration settings, safety limits, or test procedures. Those must follow engineering instructions, approved blueprints, and company validation — changes need engineer approval and traceable documentation in SAP or your test system.

Learn to operate data-acquisition and diagnostic equipment reliably and to record test procedures/results accurately in Excel and Word. Accurate data capture is the job’s core responsibility.

Also learn to read standard blueprints and basic CAD (Autodesk Inventor or AutoCAD Mechanical) so you can set up fixtures and communicate with engineers. Practical shop skills — safe tool use and basic fabrication — matter too.