Toxicologist
Studies the adverse effects of chemicals, drugs and toxins on living organisms. Assesses toxicity of substances, determines safe exposure levels, investigates poisoning cases and advises on environmental and occupational health risks. Essential for drug safety, food safety and environmental protection.
- AI exposure
- 39 of 100, low exposure
- Hiring trend
- Stable
- Hiring rate
- 35%
The role
What the work is, what it pays, and what it costs you.
At a glance
- Remote friendly
- Yes
- Freelance potential
- Medium
- Time to senior
- 9 years
- Adaptation level
- Moderate
A day in the role
Reviews toxicity data for a new pesticide registration, designs a chronic toxicity study, analyses histopathology results, and drafts a risk assessment report for the regulatory authority.
What it pays
Kenyan market, per month- Entry
- KES 100,000-140,000
- Mid
- KES 190,000-310,000
- Senior
- KES 380,000-650,000
Exposure
How much of this a machine can already do, and how that was worked out.
Where this rating sits
1,516 rated careersRated above 44% of the 1,516 careers in the catalogue, which averages 43. Inside science the mean is 45, across 71 careers.
What the rating is made of
Share of recorded tasks- Machine does it
- 12%Software can already complete this work end to end.
- Machine assists
- 38%A person still decides, but the drafting is done for them.
- Person does it
- 50%Judgement, relationships and accountability that do not transfer.
Named task by task
Already automated
- Predicting toxicity from chemical structure (QSAR models)
- Analysing toxicology screening data
- Generating toxicology report drafts
- Automating literature reviews for chemical safety assessments
Still human
- Designing and conducting toxicology studies (in vitro and in vivo)
- Analysing biological samples for toxins and drug levels
- Determining safe exposure levels and regulatory limits
- Investigating poisoning cases and environmental contamination
- Writing toxicology reports and regulatory submissions
- Advising on occupational health and chemical safety
- Collaborating with forensic scientists and public health officials
Getting in
The routes into the role and what each one asks for.
What to study
8 courses- Diploma in Dairy TechnologyKsh 64,120a year
- Craft Certificate in Food Processing and Preservation TechnologyKsh 67,189a year
- Diploma in Analytical BiologyKsh 67,189a year
- Diploma in Analytical ChemistryKsh 67,189a year
- Diploma in Applied BiologyKsh 67,189a year
- Diploma in Food Science and TechnologyKsh 67,189a year
- Diploma in Petroleum and GeoscienceKsh 67,189a year
- Diploma in Science Laboratory TechnologyKsh 67,189a year
How people get in
Toxicology or pharmacology degree
4-6 yearsHigh cost
BSc Pharmacy/Toxicology from UoN, JKUAT or KU
Toxicology postgrad
2-4 yearsHigh cost
MSc or PhD Toxicology
Who hires
- KEMRI
- Kenya Bureau of Standards
- PPB Kenya
- NEMA Kenya
- DVS Kenya
Common misconceptions
Toxicology is just about poisons
It covers pharmaceutical safety, environmental contaminants, occupational health, food safety and regulatory science.
The dose makes the poison is the whole story
Modern toxicology considers timing, duration, mixture effects and individual susceptibility — not just dose.
What happens next
How the role changes from here, and where it leads.
Supply and demand
- Demand
- 35
- Supply pressure
- 8
- Balance
- High demand
What to learn
- Risk assessment
- Analytical chemistry
- Regulatory toxicology
Kenyan market notes
Government Chemist Kenya is the primary toxicology laboratory. KEMRI conducts toxicology research. KEBS needs toxicologists for food and product safety testing. Growing concern about pesticide residues, heavy metals and environmental contamination in Kenya. Occupational health and safety regulations create demand for toxicology assessments. Pharmaceutical companies need toxicology for drug development. Global: toxicologist median salary $88,000-$120,000/year. DABT certification is the gold standard. Limited local training — most Kenyan toxicologists train abroad. Strong demand in regulatory, pharmaceutical and environmental sectors.
Further reading
This role is rated 39 out of 100 today. Save it and the app keeps that number, then tells you by how much it has moved when the record is next reviewed.