I mean you’d be gunning for a entry level role (junior, associate, etc). However I think you would have a realistic chance. You will have to explain it in interviews but I don’t think it’s unrealistic. The market sucks right now in some industries but there’s some roles out here, a lot if your willing to relocate.

Any set specific field or area you had kore experience in (aerospace, automobiles, med device, etc)

Is there a reason you don’t want to be an engineer?

My coworkers are mostly ME or biomedical engineers and those roles start like 70k and go up from there?

Software is cool but you already have a really marketable degree.

They are coming back, now that interest rates are up.

In my case HYSA are good enough, and so liquid, I don' care to deal with anything else. I can get about 4%, which is good enough for the amount I keep liquid. Beyond that, I am investing. If I was saving for something huge, but closeish (like a house, or IDK a big boat) I may feel differently.

That is wonderful, for areas to look I can tell you the greater Boston area and RTP in NC seem to be nuts lately. I get recruiters with roles in that area regularly. If either of those interest you I think you have good odds.

Also, for entry level QC labs are always hiring. They also LOVE analytical chemists. Anyone who is good at plate based assays and some instrumentation.

QC can be soul sucking but a great way into industry.

Very odd, maybe get some one to check your resume. Also, Takeda is headquartered in boston, and has sites around the world. LA might very well be saturated and more difficult to get a job with no experience. May be that is the case in general in LA. Again, I am a life long east coast guy.

It might be worth while to pursue larger manufacturing sites where less talent is located.

That’s wildly underpaid, we start junior chemists at 30/hr. Fresh out of undergrad with 0 experience. A analytical lab chemist, mid level, should be 80-100k a year. Maybe it’s your area, or maybe aerospace pays less than Pharma. Also, LA is not a manufacturing hub for Pharma, so not a good place to be a chemist. I’m east coast, and always have been, so can’t speak to your area. I can say everywhere I have been pays more in lower COL areas.

You need to move, despite what I already have seen posted here (and everyone’s favorite anecdotes) the biological sciences pay quite well without a PhD. A ms in chem is a solid 60k a year at any manufacturer plant. The work is boring and a grind. However there is a lot of viable career growth. You just need to live near somewhere that manufacturers. Then you can pivot into another role, whatever suits you. I have a BS in chem, nothing else. I make mid 90s, and have been in industry about 2 years. Biologics and pharma are still booming despite other industries slowing down. Stay away from academia, my guess is that’s what you have seen. Those places do pay barely over minimum wage, and there is no growth. Those are filled with people needing pubs for graduate school applications. You have a very employable degree, use it.