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The differences between cosmetic chemists and associate scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an associate scientist has an average salary of $76,461, which is higher than the $59,876 average annual salary of a cosmetic chemist.
The top three skills for a cosmetic chemist include R, GMP and QC. The most important skills for an associate scientist are chemistry, patients, and cell culture.
| Cosmetic Chemist | Associate Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $59,876 | $76,461 |
| Hourly rate | $28.79 | $36.76 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 7,556 | 54,950 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
A cosmetic chemist specializes in formulating and developing skincare and cosmetic products such as make-up, lotion, soap, and shampoo. They typically work at laboratories where they work on different chemicals and substances, conduct studies and experiments, perform extensive research and analysis, develop and implement tests and assessments, and maintain records of all procedures. Moreover, a cosmetic chemist must maintain an active communication line with staff while adhering to the safety protocols and standards of a laboratory, especially when handling different chemicals.
An Associate Scientist assists in various experiments and research, working under the direction of a lead scientist. Their specialties may include biological life sciences, geo-science, atmospheric physics, and computing.
Cosmetic chemists and associate scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cosmetic Chemist | Associate Scientist | |
| Average salary | $59,876 | $76,461 |
| Salary range | Between $42,000 And $83,000 | Between $53,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | Skillman, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | BASF | Phillips 66 |
| Best paying industry | - | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a cosmetic chemist and an associate scientist in terms of educational background:
| Cosmetic Chemist | Associate Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between cosmetic chemists' and associate scientists' demographics:
| Cosmetic Chemist | Associate Scientist | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.9% Female, 48.1% | Male, 48.6% Female, 51.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 18.4% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 8% |