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The differences between formulation 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 $66,678 average annual salary of a formulation chemist.
The top three skills for a formulation chemist include scale-up, R and product development. The most important skills for an associate scientist are chemistry, patients, and cell culture.
| Formulation Chemist | Associate Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $66,678 | $76,461 |
| Hourly rate | $32.06 | $36.76 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 3,011 | 54,950 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
A formulation chemist is responsible for generating new concepts for product development that adhere to quality standards and safety regulations. Formulation chemists identify product opportunities by analyzing the current industry trends, developing cost-reduction initiatives, and determining efficient formulations through in-depth research and laboratory experiments. They write formulation reports and product processing, collaborating with the marketing and sales team for brand promotion and awareness. A formulation chemist must have a critical understanding of scientific methods, including chemical mixing, to achieve desired outputs.
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.
Formulation chemists and associate scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Formulation Chemist | Associate Scientist | |
| Average salary | $66,678 | $76,461 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $94,000 | Between $53,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | Frederick, MD | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Phillips 66 |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a formulation chemist and an associate scientist in terms of educational background:
| Formulation Chemist | Associate Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | 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 formulation chemists' and associate scientists' demographics:
| Formulation Chemist | Associate Scientist | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 60.6% Female, 39.4% | Male, 48.6% Female, 51.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 18.6% White, 59.3% 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% |