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The differences between formulation chemists and postdoctoral scholars 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 $57,587 average annual salary of a postdoctoral scholar.
The top three skills for a formulation chemist include scale-up, R and product development. The most important skills for a postdoctoral scholar are chemistry, python, and patients.
| Formulation Chemist | Postdoctoral Scholar | |
| Yearly salary | $66,678 | $57,587 |
| Hourly rate | $32.06 | $27.69 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 3,011 | 18,983 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| 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.
A Postdoctoral Scholar is responsible for supporting an educational research group to conduct studies and gather relevant data to support study claims and scientific evidence. They review initial findings, perform field investigations, and interview the target respondents for data and statistical analysis. They also coordinate with the whole team for efficient research methods, ensuring adherence to budget limitations and required timetables. A Postdoctoral Scholar must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written, to document reports and discuss results with the research team.
Formulation chemists and postdoctoral scholars have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Formulation Chemist | Postdoctoral Scholar | |
| Average salary | $66,678 | $57,587 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $94,000 | Between $41,000 And $79,000 |
| Highest paying City | Frederick, MD | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a formulation chemist and a postdoctoral scholar in terms of educational background:
| Formulation Chemist | Postdoctoral Scholar | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Duke University |
Here are the differences between formulation chemists' and postdoctoral scholars' demographics:
| Formulation Chemist | Postdoctoral Scholar | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 60.6% Female, 39.4% | Male, 53.0% Female, 47.0% |
| 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, 6.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 8% |