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The differences between formulation chemists and cosmetic chemists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a formulation chemist has an average salary of $66,678, which is higher than the $59,876 average annual salary of a cosmetic chemist.
The top three skills for a formulation chemist include scale-up, R and product development. The most important skills for a cosmetic chemist are R, GMP, and QC.
| Formulation Chemist | Cosmetic Chemist | |
| Yearly salary | $66,678 | $59,876 |
| Hourly rate | $32.06 | $28.79 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 3,011 | 7,556 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
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.
Formulation chemists and cosmetic chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Formulation Chemist | Cosmetic Chemist | |
| Average salary | $66,678 | $59,876 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $94,000 | Between $42,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | Frederick, MD | Skillman, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Apple | BASF |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between a formulation chemist and a cosmetic chemist in terms of educational background:
| Formulation Chemist | Cosmetic Chemist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between formulation chemists' and cosmetic chemists' demographics:
| Formulation Chemist | Cosmetic Chemist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 60.6% Female, 39.4% | Male, 51.9% Female, 48.1% |
| 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, 8.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 18.4% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |